title: Singing under the influence: examining the effects of nutrition and addiction on a learned vocal behavior.
abstract: The songbird model is widely established in a number of laboratories for the investigation of the neurobiology and development of vocal learning. While vocal learning is rare in the animal kingdom, it is a trait that songbirds share with humans. The neuroanatomical and physiological organization of the brain circuitry that controls learned vocalizations has been extensively characterized, particularly in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Recently, several powerful molecular and genomic tools have become available in this organism, making it an attractive choice for neurobiologists interested in the neural and genetic basis of a complex learned behavior. Here, we briefly review some of the main features of vocal learning and associated brain structures in zebra finches and comment on some examples that illustrate how themes related to nutrition and addiction can be explored using this model organism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 Sam Jackson Park Rd L470, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
authors.forename: Peter V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Lovell
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: Claudio V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Mello
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology; D016739:Behavior, Addictive; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / Q000378:metabolism; D002766:Cholecystokinin / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D020308:Songbirds / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D014828:Vocalization, Animal / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D002766:Cholecystokinin