Developmental auditory exposure shapes responses of catecholaminergic neurons to socially-modulated song

摘要: Developmental sensory experience is critical to the tuning of systems and can shape perceptual abilities their neural substrates. Neuromodulators, including catecholamines, contribute plasticity in both older younger individuals provide a mechanism for translating into changes brain behavior. Less well known, however, whether developmental has lasting effects on neuromodulatory neurons themselves. Here, we used female zebra finches investigate degree which auditory have density responsiveness catecholamine-synthesizing neuron populations. We found that hearing courtship, but not non-courtship, song increased expression activity-dependent immediate early gene cFOS dopamine caudal ventral tegmental area (VTA) this increase was dependent females heard adult during development. exposure also affected producing rostral VTA. In contrast, song-evoked responses noradrenergic Locus Coeruleus were by either or social context stimulus. These data highlight shaping