Uncovering a 'sensitive window' of multisensory and motor neuroplasticity in the cerebrum and cerebellum of male and female starlings.

Autor: Orije J; Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium., Cardon E; Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium., Hamaide J; Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium., Jonckers E; Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium., Darras VM; Laboratory of Comparative Endocrinology, Biology Department, Leuven, Belgium., Verhoye M; Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium., Van der Linden A; Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: ELife [Elife] 2021 Jun 07; Vol. 10. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Jun 07.
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.66777
Abstrakt: Traditionally, research unraveling seasonal neuroplasticity in songbirds has focused on the male song control system and testosterone. We longitudinally monitored the song behavior and neuroplasticity in male and female starlings during multiple photoperiods using Diffusion Tensor and Fixel-Based techniques. These exploratory data-driven whole-brain methods resulted in a population-based tractogram confirming microstructural sexual dimorphisms in the song control system. Furthermore, male brains showed hemispheric asymmetries in the pallium, whereas females had higher interhemispheric connectivity, which could not be attributed to brain size differences. Only females with large brains sing but differ from males in their song behavior by showing involvement of the hippocampus. Both sexes experienced multisensory neuroplasticity in the song control, auditory and visual system, and cerebellum, mainly during the photosensitive period. This period with low gonadal hormone levels might represent a 'sensitive window' during which different sensory and motor systems in the cerebrum and cerebellum can be seasonally re-shaped in both sexes.
Competing Interests: JO, EC, JH, EJ, VD, MV, AV No competing interests declared
(© 2021, Orije et al.)
Databáze: MEDLINE