Auditory feedback in the Bengalese finch animal model By Jake McGrath Program in Neuroscience Department of Zoology & Physiology
auditory feedback: humans Delayed Feedback Musicians and auditory feedback Choral Speech Useful in cases of stuttering (Kalinowski & Saltuklaroglu, 2003)
Animal model: Bengalese Finch Establishment of the Bengalese Finch Animal Model Deafening reveals necessity for active auditory feedback in songbirds Most sensitive songbird to changes in auditory feedback (Woolley & Rubel, 1997)
Previous studies Deafening studies and effects on bird song Reversible changes in auditory feedback Use of gas to produce change in auditory feedback (Yamada & Okanoya, 2003)
Current research: My project Utilization of gasses to change auditory feedback Heliox (Helium 70% + Oxygen 30%): research in progress Sulfox (Sulfur Hexafluoride 70% + Oxygen 30%): soon underway Our Goals: Understand the role of auditory feedback in vocal control Instructive: change in vocal output is specific to feedback error Permissive: change in vocal output is not specific to feedback error (pushing pitch down with gas is novel…) this for instructive vs. permissive. Also define composition of gas.
Establishing atmospheric change Testing for chamber saturation – the “click test” Heliox – increase in the speed of sound due to lower density
Song sequence stereotypy Song syntax is variable, but with a specific set of possible transitions a b a c d e f f g h h h h h b a a c d e f f g 10 kHz 0 kHz 500 ms then seque to left panel of blue blocks on slide with same text as bullet above
Song Sequence stereotypy cont. No change in syntax when singing in heliox Contrasts with previous results (Yamada & Okanoya, 2003) a b a c d e f f g h h h h h b a a c d e f f g 10 kHz 0 kHz
Did heliox raise pitch? The Bengalese Finch song: Harmonic “stacked note”: 10 kHz 0 kHz
POWER IN harmonic NOTES Ratio of high frequency (6th harmonic) to low frequency (2nd harmonic) Prediction: Ratio high/low will be greater in heliox Initial results indicate opposite change *
SUMMARY Despite change in feedback induced by heliox, no change in syntax Reveals active role in online vocal control based on auditory feedback Counterintuitive opposite change suggests active compensation to overcome error Consistent with recent results from other groups (Sober & Brainard, 2009)
Relevance Importance of auditory feedback Bengalese finch: an important animal model Compensation suggests auditory feedback plays an instructive role in vocal output Heliox and sulfox experiments will continue in Summer 2011 Future research will investigate the neural mechanisms underlying sensorimotor integration to shape vocal behavior
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS INBRE Jonathan Prather, Ph. D. Margaret Flanigan, Ph. D. Sean Reid
Questions?