Project Overview
Neural and hormonal correlates of song-entangled gestures
Department(s)
Neuroscience
Psychological and Brain Sciences
Abstract
When we speak, we gesture. Co-speech gestures allow us to emphasize or convey important messages of our speech to the intended audience. However, it remains unclear what might be the underlying neural correlates of co-song gestures. My lab recently discovered song-entangled gestures in a songbird, the zebra finches. The co-song gestures are produced when a songbird sings a specific syllable of a song, the co-song gesture is thus likely to emphasize a complex learned syllable. Additionally, the production of co-song gestures relies on the auditory feedback, suggesting the co-song gesture is learned motor control and is operated in the higher level brain circuits. In this study, we seek to investigate the neural correlates of co-song gestures by (1) manipulating the forebrain circuits for learned songs and see how co-gesture is affected. (2) manipulating neurotransmitters (dopamine agonist) and hormones (testosterone) and test its effect on song gestures.
Student Qualifications
No specific qualitifications.
Number of Student Researchers
2 students
Project Length
8 weeks
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