The cerebellum influences vocal timing

Court Hull

doi:10.7554/elife.40447

Abstract

A circuit pathway from the cerebellum to the basal ganglia contributes to vocal learning in songbirds.

Highlights

Related research article Pidoux L, Le Blanc P, Levenes C, Leblois A. 2018
In both humans and songbirds, the brain circuits essential for vocal learning connect the cortex and the basal ganglia
A better knowledge of how cerebellar circuits interact with the basal ganglia and the cortex is critical for understanding how vocal learning is established, and how it is disrupted by injury or disease

Summary

Introduction

Related research article Pidoux L, Le Blanc P, Levenes C, Leblois A. 2018. A subcortical circuit linking the cerebellum to the basal ganglia engaged in vocal learning. eLife 7: e32167. In both humans and songbirds, the brain circuits essential for vocal learning connect the cortex (a highly evolved brain structure involved in associative learning) and the basal ganglia (a more evolutionarily ancient brain region involved in reinforcement learning; Brainard and Doupe, 2013; Mooney, 2009). Another part of the brain, called the cerebellum or ‘little brain’, may have an important role in vocal learning.

Results

Conclusion