Identification and analysis of vocal communication pathways in birds through inducible gene expression.
The immediate-early gene zenk is an activity-dependent gene highly induced in auditory processing or vocal motor control brain areas when birds engage in hearing or producing song, respectively. Studies of the expression of zenk in songbirds and other avian groups will be reviewed here briefly, with a focus on how this analysis has generated new insights on the brain pathways and mechanisms involved in perceptual and motor aspects of vocal communication and vocal learning.
Mello
Claudio V
CV
Neurological Sciences Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA. melloc@ohsu.edu
D000818:Animals; D001303:Auditory Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D001717:Birds / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D014828:Vocalization, Animal / Q000502:physiology*