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Published on: May 9, 2017
Mapping vocalization-related immediate early gene expression in echolocating bats.
Christine P Schwartz1, Michael S Smotherman
1Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-3258, USA. cpschwar@d.umn.edu
Behavioural Brain Research
|July 6, 2011
Summary
Mammalian vocal modulation is not fully understood. This study mapped brain activity in bats, revealing novel neural pathways, including a striatothalamic feedback loop, involved in vocal control.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Bioacoustics
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- Mammalian vocalizations exhibit complex modulation, suggesting sophisticated neural control.
- The precise neural substrates governing vocal modulation in mammals remain largely unidentified.
- Echolocating bats offer a model system due to their rapid, cognitive control over vocalizations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To map neural activity associated with vocal production in bats.
- To identify brain regions involved in the control of echolocation vocalizations.
- To elucidate the neural basis of vocal modulation in mammals.
Main Methods:
- Utilized immunohistochemical localization of immediate early gene (c-fos) expression.
- Mapped neural activity in the brains of spontaneously echolocating Mexican free-tailed bats.
- Analyzed c-fos expression to identify active brain regions during vocalization.
Main Results:
- Confirmed known neural pathways involved in vocal control.
- Identified novel regions: dorsolateral caudate nucleus and mediodorsal thalamic nucleus.
- Evidence suggests a striatothalamic feedback loop for echolocation pulse control.
- Discovered a motivation pathway involving the lateral habenula, substantia nigra, and raphe nuclei.
Conclusions:
- The findings support existing models of vocal control while introducing new brain regions.
- A striatothalamic feedback loop is implicated in regulating echolocation pulse production.
- Neural pathways integrating sensory, contextual, and motivational cues in vocalization are identified.
- Provides critical insights into the neural mechanisms of mammalian vocal regulation.
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