D2 dopamine receptor activation induces female preference for male song in the monogamous zebra finch
Abstract
The evolutionary conservation of neural mechanisms for forming and maintaining pair bonds is unclear. Oxytocin, vasopressin and dopamine (DA) transmitter systems have been shown to be important in pair-bond formation and maintenance in several vertebrate species. We examined the role of dopamine in formation of song preference in zebra finches, a monogamous bird. Male courtship song is an honest signal of sexual fitness; thus, we measured female song preference to evaluate the role of DA in mate selection and pair-bond formation, using an operant conditioning paradigm. We found that DA acting through the D2 receptor, but not the D1 receptor, can induce a song preference in unpaired female finches and that blocking the D2 receptor abolished song preference in paired females. These results suggest that similar neural mechanisms for pair-bond formation are evolutionarily conserved in rodents and birds.
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Collectively, studies in zebra finches, butterflyfishes, and other species emphasize the significance of the interplay between OXT and DA and their combined impact on pair bonding, extending beyond the context of humans and rodents.
“Collectively, these studies (Anderson et al., 2023; Day et al., 2019; Nowicki et al., 2020) emphasize the significance of the interplay between OXT and DA and their combined impact on pair bonding, extending beyond the context of humans and rodents.”
From Convergence of oxytocin and dopamine signalling in neuronal circuits: Insights into the neurobiology of social interactions across species (2024) · cites this paper as Day et al., 2019
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Rappeneau, V., & Castillo Díaz, F. (2024) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105675 · Cited by 51 · see citing works
“In the context of pair bonding in adult zebra finches ( Taeniopygia guttata ), known for monogamous pairs and courtship behaviour, a study evaluated song preference in pair-bonded and unpaired females (Day et al., 2019).”
Background
- Authors
- Day, N. F., Saxon, D., Robbins, A., Harris, L., Nee, E., Shroff-Mehta, N., Stout, K., Sun, J., Lillie, N., Burns, M., Korn, C., & Coleman, M. J.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Los Angeles (US)
- Claremont McKenna College (US)
- ORCID
- Venue
- Journal of Experimental Biology
- Publisher
- The Company of Biologists
- Published
- 2019-03-01
- Volume
- 222
- Issue
- 5
- ISSN
- 0022-0949 (ISSN-L)
- 1477-9145
- OpenAlex
- W2921563953
- Cited by
- 27
- References
- 51
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2
- FWCI
- 3.45
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Experimental Biology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute (30052007536)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Developmental Biology › Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Keywords
- dopamine D2 receptor, dopamine D1 receptor, zebra finch, female song preference, courtship song, pair bonding, mate choice, monogamy, dopamine signaling, oxytocin, vasopressin
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Conditioning, Operant, Courtship, Dopamine, Female, Vocalization, Animal, Receptors, Dopamine D1, Receptors, Dopamine D2, Songbirds, Avian Proteins, Finches
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