title: Adult neurogenesis is associated with the maintenance of a stereotyped, learned motor behavior.
abstract: Adult neurogenesis is thought to provide neural plasticity used in forming and storing new memories. Here we show a novel relationship between numbers of new neurons and the stability of a previously learned motor pattern. In the adult zebra finch, new projection neurons are added to the nucleus HVC and become part of the motor pathway for producing learned song. However, new song learning occurs only in juveniles and the behavioral impact of adding new neurons to HVC throughout life is unclear. We report that song changes after deafening are inversely correlated with the number of new neurons added to HVC, suggesting that adult neurogenesis in this context may contribute to behavioral stability. More broadly, we propose that new neuron function may depend on the site of integration and can vary as widely as promoting, or restricting, behavioral plasticity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, New York 11367, USA. Carolyn.pytte@qc.cuny.edu
authors.forename: Carolyn L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Pytte
authors.forename: Shanu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Shoshana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Korman
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bogdan
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kirn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003638:Deafness / Q000503:physiopathology*; D046369:Finches; D053400:High Vocal Center / Q000502:physiology; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D014828:Vocalization, Animal / Q000502:physiology*