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10/17/2024 15:37

Underestimated female tutors: zebra finch mothers coach their sons to sing better

Dr. Stefanie Merker Kommunikation (PR)
Max-Planck-Institut für biologische Intelligenz

    In the world of zebra finches, males sing, and females were thought to just listen. But a new study by Daniela Vallentin at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence has overturned this assumption. It turns out that female zebra finches play a far more active and crucial role in shaping their sons' singing abilities than previously thought: They call in response to their son's vocal exercises, which activates a neuronal circuit in the male brain. In this way, the female feedback directly promotes the accuracy of the learned song and highlights the often-overlooked importance of females shaping complex behaviors.

    As with many bird species, only male zebra finches are able to learn the species-typical song from a tutor, usually the father. Over a period of three months, the young males initially only listen to the tutor. They then begin to practice the song they have heard and eventually develop their own version of it, which they keep for the rest of their lives. Females, on the other hand, do not sing; their calls are innate and primarily used to communicate with their partner. Therefore, research on song learning has mainly focused on males, i.e. the relationship between tutor and apprentice. The potential influence of females and their calls on song development has so far been largely neglected.

    Vallentin and her team now discovered that female zebra finches play a far more active and influential role in shaping their sons' vocal abilities than previously imagined. When young males practice their songs, the females don't merely listen; they actively respond with specific calls. These calls, the researchers found, trigger a unique neuronal response in the males' brains, influencing their learning process and enabling them to more accurately mimic their tutor's song. In essence, females act as vocal coaches, providing real-time feedback that helps males refine their songs. This revelation challenges the traditional, male-centric view of song learning, highlighting the often-overlooked importance of females in shaping complex behaviors. As Linda Bistere, the study's first author, remarks, the findings were both "exciting and unexpected," underscoring the value of questioning assumptions and exploring uncharted territories in scientific research.

    The findings serve as a reminder that even subtle interactions between the sexes can have a profound impact on the development of complex behaviors like birdsong. It also underscores the importance of looking beyond the obvious when studying the natural world, as hidden influences and unexpected collaborations may be waiting to be discovered.

    So, the next time you hear a male zebra finch serenading his mate, remember that his beautiful song is likely the result of a duet of learning, with both the male and the female playing crucial roles.


    Contact for scientific information:

    Dr. Daniela Vallentin
    Lise Meitner Research Group Leader
    Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence
    daniela.vallentin@bi.mpg.de


    Original publication:

    Linda Bistere, Carlos M. Gomez-Guzman, Yirong Xiong & Daniela Vallentin
    Female calls promote song learning in male juvenile zebra finches
    Nature Communications, online October 16, 2024
    https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-53251-z


    More information:

    http://www.bi.mpg.de/vallentin - Website of Daniela Vallentin's Research Group
    http://www.bi.mpg.de - Website of the MPI for Biological Intelligence


    Images

    Female zebra finches play a far more active and crucial role in shaping their sons' singing abilities than previously thought: They call in response to their son's vocal exercises, which activates a neuronal circuit in the male brain.
    Female zebra finches play a far more active and crucial role in shaping their sons' singing abilitie ...

    (c) MPI für biologische Intelligenz / Julia Kuhl


    Criteria of this press release:
    Journalists, Scientists and scholars, Students, Teachers and pupils, all interested persons
    Biology
    transregional, national
    Research results, Scientific Publications
    English


     

    Female zebra finches play a far more active and crucial role in shaping their sons' singing abilities than previously thought: They call in response to their son's vocal exercises, which activates a neuronal circuit in the male brain.


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