Neuroscience 2005 Abstract
| Presentation Number: | 1002.8 |
|---|---|
| Abstract Title: | Sleep modifies motor programs in the avian song system. |
| Authors: |
Rauske, P. L.*1
; Chi, Z.2
; Margoliash, D.1
1Dept Organismal Biol Anat, Univ. of Chicago, Chicago, IL 2Dept Statistics, Univ. of Chicago, Chicago, IL |
| Primary Theme and Topics |
Cognition and Behavior - Neuroethology -- Vocal/social communication |
| Session: |
1002. Bird Song III Poster |
| Presentation Time: | Wednesday, November 16, 2005 4:00 PM-5:00 PM |
| Location: | Washington Convention Center - Hall A-C, Board # NN29 |
| Keywords: | replay, zebra finch, birdsong, plasticity |
The highly stereotyped song of adult zebra finches is dynamically maintained. Neurons in the premotor nucleus robustus arcopallialis (RA) occasionally emit sequences of bursts that match patterns produced during singing. This suggests the hypothesis that alteration during sleep of premotor output is a mechanism for maintenance of adult song. We previously described apparent changes to the temporal patterns of premotor bursts in RA following sleep (SFN 2001, 318.3). In this study we quantified changes to the structure of bursts recorded in RA single units during female-directed singing, comparing the occurrence of such changes across sleeping and wakeful intervals. For each premotor burst, we defined pre- or post-interval features as spikes reliably produced with consistent relative timing. A structural change was defined as a significant change in features produced between pre- and post-interval bursts, combined with a change in the mean number of spikes/burst > 0.5. Of all burst types recorded before and after sleep, 29% (33/115 bursts in 10/15 units) showed structural changes across sleep while less than 3% (11/426 bursts in 10/43 units) showed such changes across awake intervals. Changes could occur across sleep periods of 1.5-10 h, with or without auditory stimulation by song playback. Some bursts had significant changes to spike count without structural changes; such changes were also more common across sleep (32%) than across awake intervals (18%). We controlled for the passage of time by comparing changes across sleeping and awake intervals of similar durations (1.5-3 h); structural changes remained much more frequent across sleep (28%) than awake intervals (7%). Most changes across sleep involved a loss of spikes, with spike counts across all premotor bursts decreasing by 6% following sleep. This decrease was not compensated for during wake-only recordings, where later bursts produced 2% fewer spikes than earlier bursts. Changes in RA premotor patterns may represent the final forebrain output of a sleep-dependent learning mechanism.
Supported by NIH grant to DM and ZC
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2005 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2005. Online.
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