Dopamine System Modulates Song-related Nucleus and Song Behavior in Songbirds

Songbird is one of the few animals with complex phonological learning ability except human. The song of a songbird is similar to the production of human language. Using songbirds as models, the comparative physiology study provides important insights into the neural mechanisms that regulate language sequences and language learning and production in humans. The singing of songbirds is regulated by the interrelated singing control nuclei. Dopamine, an important neurotransmitter in the brain, is involved in the regulation of movement, cognition, motivation, reward, addiction and learning in mammals, it has been linked to Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia and Huntington's syndrome in humans. DA is a key substance in the brain that regulates learning and motivation. In songbirds, dopamine and its receptors are found in a large number of singing-related nuclei. In addition, recent studies have shown that dopamine promotes songbird song learning in juvenile stage, song retention in adulthood, and song production in courtship by regulating the singing-related nuclei. Based on the research of our work , this paper reviews the research progress in the regulation of the dopamine system on the singing-related nuclei and singing behavior of songbirds, the potential mechanism of dopamine signal regulating singing behavior of songbirds was proposed.

Automated summary

Songbirds, like humans, are capable of complex phonological learning and their singing behavior is regulated by dopamine and its receptors in various nuclei associated with singing. Dopamine plays a crucial role in promoting song learning in juvenile songbirds, maintaining song retention in adulthood, and regulating song production during courtship by influencing the singing-related nuclei.