Presentation Information
[P3-38]Sensory–motor mirror neurons in the basal ganglia support temporally precise song imitation in Bengalese finches.
*Yuka Suzuki1,2, Hiroki, Koda1, Kazuo Okanoya2, & Shin Yanagihara2 (1: The University of Tokyo, Japan, 2: Teikyo University, Japan)
Keywords:
songbird,basal ganglia,mirror neuron,imitation
Songbirds learn complex vocalizations, known as songs, by imitating those of adult tutors. These songs consist of syllables arranged in specific sequences with millisecond-level temporal precision. Successful song imitation requires the integration of auditory input from tutors with vocal-motor output to produce self-generated songs. Understanding the neural mechanisms supporting this temporally precise process may provide broader insights into the neural basis of imitation learning. Previous studies have shown that the cortico-basal ganglia circuit is essential for song learning. In the premotor cortical nucleus, some neurons that project to the basal ganglia fire at specific syllable timings not only during singing but also when the bird is listening to its own song. These “sensory–motor mirror neurons” are believed to contribute to song imitation by linking sensory input with motor output: they fire at precisely timed instants within each syllable, thereby supporting temporally precise vocal control. In this study, we examined whether such sensory–motor mirror neurons exist in the basal ganglia and how their properties change throughout song development. Using single-unit recordings in adult Bengalese finches, we identified basal ganglia neurons that exhibited syllable-specific firing both during singing and during passive playback of the bird’s own song. In juveniles, we found sensory–motor mirror neurons that responded to tutor songs as well as self-generated songs. Importantly, the pattern of neural responses shifted as learning progressed: early in development, neurons responded primarily to the tutor’s song, whereas at later stages they responded more strongly to the bird’s own song. These findings suggest that sensory–motor mirror neurons support vocal imitation by dynamically updating their sensory representations from external auditory targets to self-generated vocal behavior as learning progresses.