Vocal learning in songbirds requires an anatomically discrete and functionally dedicated circuit called the anterior forebrain pathway (AFP). The AFP is homologous to cortico-basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical loops in mammals. The basal ganglia portion of this pathway, Area X, shares many features characteristic of the mammalian striatum and pallidum, including cell types and connectivity. The AFP also deviates from mammalian basal ganglia circuits in fundamental ways. In addition, the microcircuitry, role of neuromodulators, and function of Area X are still unclear. Elucidating the mechanisms by which both mammalian-like and unique features of the AFP contribute to vocal learning may help lead to a broad understanding of the sensorimotor functions of basal ganglia circuits.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2822067 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jchemneu.2009.07.003 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Astrocyte-derived exosomes regulate sperm miR-34c levels to mediate the transgenerational effects of paternal chronic social instability stress.
Epigenetics
December 2025
Department of Developmental, Molecular and Chemical Biology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
The effects of chronically stressing male mice can be transmitted across generations by stress-specific changes in their sperm miRNA content, which induce stress-specific phenotypes in their offspring. However, how each stress paradigm alters the levels of distinct sets of sperm miRNAs is not known. We showed previously that exposure of male mice to chronic social instability (CSI) stress results in elevated anxiety and reduced sociability specifically in their female offspring across multiple generations because it reduces miR-34c levels in sperm of stressed males and their unstressed male offspring.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnlabelled: Motivated behaviors are regulated by distributed forebrain networks. Traditional approaches have often focused on individual brain regions and connections that do not capture the topographic organization of forebrain connectivity. We performed co-injections of anterograde and retrograde tract tracers in rats to provide novel high-spatial resolution evidence of topographic connections that elaborate a previously identified closed-loop forebrain circuit implicated in affective and motivational processes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Writer's cramp (WC) dystonia is an involuntary movement disorder with distributed abnormalities in the brain's motor network. Prior studies established the potential for repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to either premotor cortex (PMC) or primary somatosensory cortex (PSC) to modify symptoms. However, clinical effects have been modest with limited understanding of the neural mechanisms hindering therapeutic advancement of this promising approach.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMelatonin attenuates MPP-induced autophagy heat shock protein in the Parkinson's disease mouse model.
PeerJ
January 2025
Medical section, Jiang Ling County People's Hospital, Hubei, Jiangling County, Jingzhou City, China.
Background: This study investigates the protective properties of melatonin in an Parkinson's disease (PD) model, focusing on the underlying mechanisms involving heat shock proteins (HSPs).
Methods: Twelve adult male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups (normal control, melatonin control, Parkinson's model, and melatonin treatment; = 3 per group) and housed in a single cage. 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) was injected intraperitoneally in the Parkinson's model and treatment groups to establish a subacute PD model, while controls received saline.
Combined irradiation by gamma-rays and carbon-12 nuclei caused hyperlocomotion and change in striatal metabolism of rats.
Life Sci Space Res (Amst)
February 2025
Institute for High Energy Physics named by A.A. Logunov of NRC "Kurchatov Institute", Protvino, Russia.
Exposure to ionizing radiation during manned deep space missions to Mars could lead to functional impairments of the central nervous system, which may compromise the success of the mission and affect the quality of life for returning astronauts. Along with radiation-induced changes in cognitive abilities and emotional status, the effects of increased motor activity were observed. The mechanisms behind these phenomena still remain unresolved.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!