Practice Problem
Effect of Early Song Exposure on DA Release within the Avian Basal Ganglia
This experiment evaluated whether early exposure to song promotes dopamine release within a brain region that is necessary for normal song learning in songbirds. The experiment involved zebra finches, a songbird in which only males produce learned song. Juvenile males zebra finches normally imitate only songs heard between 20 and 55 days after hatching, and they normally will only imitate conspecific (own species) song.
Young male zebra finches that were 40 days old were implanted with microdialysis probes to measure dopamine release within a portion of the basal ganglia involved with song learning. Birds were isolated from all song from 40-45 days of age, and then were exposed to conspecific song for 30 minutes. In each bird, dialysate samples were collected for 10 min before song presentation, and then again during the last 10 minutes of song presentation.
Animal ID |
Presong exposure |
During song exposure |
y33 |
35 |
37 |
y34 |
22 |
30 |
y35 |
25 |
27 |
y36 |
23 |
29 |
y37 |
31 |
35 |
y38 |
20 |
22 |