Auditory-Motor Matching in Vocal Recognition and Imitative Learning. (15th June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tramacere, Antonella; Wada, Kazuhiro; Okanoya, Kazuo; Iriki, Atsushi; Ferrari, Pier F.
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience. Volume 409(2019)
• Page Start: 222
• Page End: 234
• Publication Date: 2019-06-15
• Subjects: ACC Anterior Cingulate Cortex -- AFP Anterior Forebrain Pathway -- AIP Intraparietal Area -- Ast Anterior Striatum -- At Anterior thalamus -- BOS Bird Own Song -- CM Caudal Mesopallium -- DLM Dorso-lateral division of the medial thalamus -- EEG Electroencephalography -- fMRI functional Magnetic Resonance -- HVC High Vocal Center -- HVC(in) HVC interneurons -- HVC(RA) HVC neurons projecting to Area RA -- HVC(x) HVC neurons projecting to Area x -- NIf Interfacial Nucleus -- LMAN Lateral Part of the Manocellular Nucleus of the Anterior Nidopallium -- NCM Caudomedial Nidopallium -- M1 Motor Cortex -- MNs Mirror Neurons -- MNS Mirror Neuron System -- IFG Inferior Frontal Gyrus -- IPL Intraparietal Lobule -- IPS Inferior Parietal Sulcus -- PAG Periacqueductal Grey -- PM premotor cortex -- SMA Supplementary Motor Area -- SPL Superior Parietal Lobule -- STS Superior Temporal Sulcus -- RA Robust Nucleus of the Arcopallium -- TMS Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation -- Uva Uvaeform nucleus of the thalamus; songbirds -- mirror neurons -- vocal recognition -- internal models -- imitative learning -- interspecies variability; Neurochemistry -- Periodicals; Neurophysiology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurochimie -- Périodiques; Neurophysiologie -- Périodiques; Neurochemistry; Neurophysiology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.01.056
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4522

Abstract

Abstract: Songbirds possess mirror neurons (MNs) activating during the perception and execution of specific features of songs. These neurons are located in high vocal center (HVC), a premotor nucleus implicated in song perception, production and learning, making worth to inquire their properties and functions in vocal recognition and imitative learning. By integrating a body of brain and behavioral data, we discuss neurophysiology, anatomical, computational properties and possible functions of songbird MNs. We state that the neurophysiological properties of songbird MNs depends on sensorimotor regions that are outside the auditory neural system. Interestingly, songbirds MNs can be the result of the specific type of song representation possessed by some songbird species. At the functional level, we discuss whether songbird MNs are involved in others' song recognition, by dissecting the function of recognition in various different but possible overlapping processes: action-oriented perception, discriminative-oriented perception and identification of the signaler. We conclude that songbird MNs may be involved in recognizing other singer's vocalizations, while their role in imitative learning still require to solve how auditory feedback are used to correct own vocal performance to match the tutor song. Finally, we compare songbird and human mirror responses, hypothesizing a case of convergent evolution, and proposing new experimental directions. Highlights: The role of songbird mirror neurons in imitative learning requires solving the problem of error correction. Songbird mirror neurons present cross-species variability that depends on the properties of song perception. Vocal recognition can be categorized in action-oriented, discriminative-oriented perception and signaler identification. Songbird mirror neurons are plausible connected with the identification of the signaler and action-oriented perception.