The DOI matches its Crossref record; 44 of the 44 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Precise auditory–vocal mirroring in neurons for learned vocal communication
Abstract
Brain mechanisms for communication must establish a correspondence between sensory and motor codes used to represent the signal. One idea is that this correspondence is established at the level of single neurons that are active when the individual performs a particular gesture or observes a similar gesture performed by another individual. Although neurons that display a precise auditory-vocal correspondence could facilitate vocal communication, they have yet to be identified. Here we report that a certain class of neurons in the swamp sparrow forebrain displays a precise auditory-vocal correspondence. We show that these neurons respond in a temporally precise fashion to auditory presentation of certain note sequences in this songbird's repertoire and to similar note sequences in other birds' songs. These neurons display nearly identical patterns of activity when the bird sings the same sequence, and disrupting auditory feedback does not alter this singing-related activity, indicating it is motor in nature. Furthermore, these neurons innervate striatal structures important for song learning, raising the possibility that singing-related activity in these cells is compared to auditory feedback to guide vocal learning.
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“The comparable latencies that were found for singing and passive listening imply that there is a delay function performed by a CD.”
From Corollary discharge across the animal kingdom (2008) · cites this paper as [74]
In the citing paper
“Evidence for this CD function was recently found in neurons in the high vocal centre (HVC) that fired with the same latency irrespective of whether the bird was actively singing or passively listening74.”
From Corollary discharge across the animal kingdom (2008) · cites this paper as [74]
Citations
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Bloomston, N. A., & Prather, J. F. (2021) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_1638-1
Self-citationUriagereka, J. (2011) · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199593521.003.0005
Boraud, T. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198824367.003.0020
Boraud, T. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198824367.003.0021
Развитие понятия «внутренняя форма слова» в когнитивных науках. Часть 1
Завьялофф, Н. (2009) · Психологические исследования · doi:10.54359/ps.v2i3.1014
Culture and Learning: Bird Song
Токарев, К. К., & Tchernichovski, O. (2018) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-809633-8.90705-2
Zavialoff, N. (2015) · Maison des Sciences de l’Homme d’Aquitaine eBooks · doi:10.4000/books.msha.3322
Boraud, T. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198824367.003.0013
Uriagereka, J. (2011) · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199593521.003.0004
Uriagereka, J. (2011) · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199593521.003.0003
Boraud, T. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198824367.003.0022
Uriagereka, J. (2011) · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199593521.003.0001
Uriagereka, J. (2011) · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199593521.003.0002
Bloomston, N. A., & Prather, J. F. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-55065-7_1638
Self-citationKaplan, G. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-55065-7_875
Basal Ganglia: Songbird Models
Leblois, A., & Darshan, R. (2020) · Encyclopedia of Computational Neuroscience · doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-7320-6_84-2
Basal Ganglia: Songbird Models
Leblois, A., & Darshan, R. (2022) · Encyclopedia of Computational Neuroscience · doi:10.1007/978-1-0716-1006-0_84
Stutchbury, B. J. M., & Morton, E. S. (2022) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-823814-1.00001-5
(2022) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-823814-1.09987-6
Basal Ganglia: Songbird Models
Leblois, A., & Darshan, R. (2015) · Encyclopedia of Computational Neuroscience · doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-6675-8_84
Iizuka, T., Mori, C., & Okanoya, K. (2023) · Neuroscience Research · doi:10.1016/j.neures.2023.01.014
حجازى, س. ن. ا., بشرى, ص. ت., & زید, خ. م. أ. (2022) · دراسات في الارشاد النفسي والتربوي · doi:10.21608/dapt.2022.285265
Rizzolatti, G., & Sinigaglia, C. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198871705.003.0006
Rizzolatti, G., & Sinigaglia, C. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198871705.003.0004
Rizzolatti, G., & Sinigaglia, C. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198871705.003.0003
Rizzolatti, G., & Sinigaglia, C. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198871705.002.0003
Rizzolatti, G., & Sinigaglia, C. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198871705.003.0005
Rizzolatti, G., & Sinigaglia, C. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198871705.003.0007
Rizzolatti, G., & Sinigaglia, C. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198871705.002.0004
Rizzolatti, G., & Sinigaglia, C. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198871705.003.0002
Rizzolatti, G., & Sinigaglia, C. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198871705.002.0007
Rizzolatti, G., & Sinigaglia, C. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198871705.003.0001
A novel paradigm for operant social learning in ratsPreprint
Rautio, I. V., Holmberg, E. H., Kurup, D., Dunn, B. A., & Whitlock, J. R. (2023) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2023.03.24.534145
Musik und Spiegelneuronensystem
Nuara, A., & Nuara, A. (2023) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-24131-4_7
Attractor Dynamics Drive Flexible Timing in Birdsong
Hyseni, F., Rougier, N. P., & Leblois, A. (2023) · Lecture notes in computer science · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-44198-1_10
“Furthermore, the connectivity pattern may be learned through sensory (auditory) stimulation of the nucleus during the sensory period of learning as HVC neurons can respond to auditory stimulation and may display mirror-like activity pattern during singing and auditory stimulation[26].”
Neuroendocrine Modulation of Coordinated Acoustic Signals
Tobiansky, D. J., & Price, J. J. (2024) · Masterclass in neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-51112-7_1
Boraud, T. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198824367.005.0002
Introduction to the French Edition
Boraud, T. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198824367.002.0006
Boraud, T. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198824367.005.0001
Boraud, T. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198824367.002.0003
Diab, Z. B., Chammas, M., & Daou, A. (2025) · eLife · doi:10.7554/elife.105526.3
Taylor, H., & Rose, J. (2024) · Minnesota Review · doi:10.1215/00265667-11369524
“Neuroscientific evidence of brain activation in both humans and songbirds indicates that mirror neurons link what is perceived with what is performed (Prather et al. 2008; Tchernichovski and Wallman 2008).”
Mirroring Emotions and Vitality Forms
Rizzolatti, G., & Sinigaglia, C. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780192865373.003.0016
Diab, Z. B., Chammas, M., & Daou, A. (2025) · eLife · doi:10.7554/elife.105526.1
Motta-Ruiz, E., López‐Murillo, C., Hinestroza-Morales, S., Posada‐Duque, R., & Rivera‐Gutiérrez, H. F. (2025) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-6606486/v1
Imitation in non-human animals
Huber, L., Suwandschieff, E., & Mackie, L. W. (2025) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-29068-8.00147-1
Diab, Z. B., Chammas, M., & Daou, A. (2025) · eLife · doi:10.7554/elife.105526.2
A lobule-specific neuronal representation of song temporal structure in the songbird cerebellumPreprint
Ursu, R., Centeno, E. G. Z., & Leblois, A. (2025) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2025.11.10.687662
Tschida, K. (2011) · DukeSpace (Duke University)
Developing an In Vivo Intracellular Neuronal Recording System for Freely Behaving Small Animals
Yoon, I.-H. (2013) · DukeSpace (Duke University)
A lobule-specific neuronal representation of song temporal structure in the songbird cerebellumPreprint
Ursu, R., Centeno, E. G. Z., & Leblois, A. (2026) · eLife · doi:10.7554/elife.109802 · Cited by 2
Sounds on time : auditory feedback in learning, re-learning and over-learning of motor regularity
van Vugt, F. T. (2013) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/3351d3c9z5539z4c95z9240z84b96f2eb35e
Guglielmi, L., Albertini, D., Vezzani, A., Burioni, R., & Bonini, L. (2026) · iScience · doi:10.1016/j.isci.2026.116776
“Additionally, studies on other animal models have demonstrated that, beyond the order of primates, this mechanism is present in birds 5 and rodents, 6,7 suggesting that it is phylogenetically more ancient and widespread than originally thought.”
A shared cortical manifold links sensory error to motor planningPreprint
Zempolich, G., Zhou, W., Holey, B. E., Williams, A. H., & Schneider, D. M. (2026) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.64898/2026.08.02.742317
Proteomics of Experience-Dependent Plasticity in the Songbird Auditory Forebrain
Pinaud, R., Tremere, L. A., & Álzate, Ó. (2009) · Frontiers in neuroscience · doi:10.1201/9781420076264.ch14
The Evolution of Learning to Communicate: Avian Model for the Missing Link
Pepperberg, I. M. (2011) · Biosemiotics/Biosemiotics. Bookseries · doi:10.1007/978-94-007-2336-8_7
“Nevertheless, recent studies strengthen the avian-human correlations, particularly with respect to a possible MN system (Prather et al., 2008; cf. Person et al., 2008).”
Background
Metadata
- Authors
- Prather, J. F., Peters, S., Nowicki, S., & Mooney, R.
- Affiliations
- Duke Medical Center (US)
- Duke University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Mooney, R.
- Venue
- Nature
- Published
- 2008-01
- Volume
- 451
- Issue
- 7176
- Pages
- 305-310
- ISSN
- 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
- 1476-4687
- OpenAlex
- W2009465679
- Cited by
- 463
- References
- 44
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 49 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 23 · 2014: 31 · 2013: 38 · 2012: 30
- FWCI
- 31.39
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Nature (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Music Perception
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Multisensory perception and integration
- Keywords
- mirror neurons, vocal learning, songbirds, swamp sparrow, auditory feedback, song learning, striatum, vocal communication
- MeSH terms
- Acoustic Stimulation, Action Potentials, Animals, Auditory Perception, Electrophysiology, Imitative Behavior, Learning, Male, Neurons, Vocalization, Animal, Finches, Sparrows, High Vocal Center
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