Abstract
Cooperation is necessary for survival and reproduction in many animal species. However, the neural mechanisms used to coordinate behavior across individuals are not known. We investigated how plain-tailed wrens (Pheugopedius euophrys) use acoustic cues to modulate brain activity for production of duets that sound as if a single bird is singing. We made simultaneous neurophysiological recordings in a telencephalic song control area in singing pairs of wrens. We found that wrens rely on an emergent feedback control system that spans individuals for the coordination of cooperative duet singing. This feedback loop manifests as differences in behavior and neural activity that occur when birds sang alone versus in duets. Interestingly, we observed sex differences in both behavior and neural activity, reflecting asymmetries in the feedback control system. These findings suggest that cooperation in animals requires the establishment of dynamic sensory linkages between brains for the coordination of shared motor programs across individuals.
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