Sex differences and similarities in the neural circuit regulating song and other reproductive behaviors in songbirds

NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS

卷:118

Review

Ball, Gregory F.¹  Balthazart, Jacques² 

[1] Univ Maryland, Dept Psychol, College Pk, MD 20742 USA

[2] Univ Liege, GIGA Neurosci, 15 Ave Hippocrate, B-4000 Liege, Belgium

关键词: HVC (abbreviation used as the common name);    Area X of the medial striatum;    Robust nucleus of the arcopallium (RA);    Canaries;    Testosterone;    Steroid hormones;    Song control system;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.07.026

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

In the 1970s, Nottebohm and Arnold reported marked male-biased sex differences in the volume of three song control nuclei in songbirds. Subsequently a series of studies on several songbird species suggested that there is a positive correlation between the degree to which there is a sex difference in the volume of these song control nuclei and in song behavior. This correlation has been questioned in recent years. Furthermore, it has become clear that the song circuit is fully integrated into a more comprehensive neural circuit that regulates multiple courtship and reproductive behaviors including song. Sex differences in songbirds should be evaluated in the context of the full complement of behaviors produced by both sexes in relation to reproduction and based on the entire circuit in order to understand the functional significance of variation between males and females in brain and behavior. Variation in brain and behavior exhibited among living songbird species provides an excellent opportunity to understand the functional significance of sex differences related to social behaviors.

【 授权许可】

Free