Prenatal auditory learning in avian vocal learners and non-learners

Date

2021

Authors

Colombelli-Negrel, Diane
Hauber, Mark E
Evans, Christine
Katsis, Andrew C.
Brouwer, Lyanne
Adreani, Nicolas M.
Kleindorfer, Sonia

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Royal Society of London

Abstract

Understanding when learning begins is critical for identifying the factors that shape both the developmental course and the function of information acquisition. Until recently, sufficient development of the neural substrates for any sort of vocal learning to begin in songbirds was thought to be reached well after hatching. New research shows that embryonic gene activation and the outcome of vocal learning can be modulated by sound exposure in ovo. We tested whether avian embryos across lineages differ in their auditory response strength and sound learning in ovo, which we studied in vocal learning (Maluridae, Geospizidae) and vocal non-learning (Phasianidae, Spheniscidae) taxa. While measuring heart rate in ovo, we exposed embryos to (i) conspecific or heterospecific vocalizations, to determine their response strength, and (ii) conspecific vocalizations repeatedly, to quantify cardiac habituation, a form of non-associative learning. Response strength towards conspecific vocalizations was greater in two species with vocal production learning compared to two species without. Response patterns consistent with non-associative auditory learning occurred in all species. Our results demonstrate a capacity to perceive and learn to recognize sounds in ovo, as evidenced by habituation, even in species that were previously assumed to have little, if any, vocal production learning.

Description

Keywords

in ovo learning, embryonic discrimination, playback

Citation

Source

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London Series B

Type

Journal article

Book Title

Entity type

Access Statement

Open Access

License Rights

Creative Commons Attribution licence

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