Songbird mesostriatal dopamine pathways are spatially segregated before the onset of vocal learning

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285652
• Publication Date: 2023-11-16T18:31:07Z
• Authors: Malavika Ramarao; Caleb Jones; Jesse H. Goldberg; Andrea Roeser
• Keywords: Songbird; Vocal Learning

Diverse dopamine (DA) pathways send distinct reinforcement signals to different striatal regions. In adult songbirds, a DA pathway from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) Area X, nucleus of song system, carries singing-related performance error important for learning. Meanwhile, parallel medial (MST) arises group neighboring neurons that lack connectivity circuits and do not encode error. To test if structural functional segregation these two depends on singing experience, we carried out anatomical studies early in development before onset We find VTA project either X or MST juvenile birds substantial vocal practice. Quantitative comparisons juveniles (30-35 days post hatch), late (60-65 dph), (>90 dph) brains revealed an outsized expansion X-projecting relative MST-projecting over development. These results show mesostriatal system dedicated social communication can exist be spatially segregated practice associated sensorimotor experience.