Learning and brain plasticity: a three levels approach.

In some species of songbirds, the brain displays a pronounced seasonal rewiring which is associated with seasonal behavioural changes in vocal communication (singing only in spring). Both humans and songbirds learn their vocal communication and depend on speech- or song input during critical/sensitive periods in life in order to do so. For some bird species, like the zebra finch, this sensitive period is limited to a certain period after hatching (age-limited learner), in others, like the canary, this sensitive period is re-opened seasonally (open-ended learner). Longitudinal studies which obtain information both on structure and activity of the brain in living birds (using neuro-imaging) and at the same time their behaviour (singing/learning) create the unique opportunity to detect relevant moments of behaviourally related neuronal circuit changes enabling not only cause-and-effect relationship- but also target definition for subsequent gene expression studies. Thisinformation will contribute in unravelling the molecular mechanisms of neural circuitry rewiring and speech learning processes both with relevance for regenerative medicine in general and for children who, because of a history of deafness, missed out on the input they needed to learn their language properly in particular.

Keywords:NEURO MRI, BRAIN

Disciplines:Animal biology, Genetics, Medical imaging and therapy, Neurosciences, Other paramedical sciences, Veterinary medicine, Biological and physiological psychology, Cognitive science and intelligent systems, Developmental psychology and ageing