An Acoustic Password Enhances Auditory Learning in Juvenile Brood Parasitic Cowbirds

• Published in: Current biology Vol. 29; no. 23; pp. 4045 - 4051.e3
• Main Authors: Louder, Matthew I.M., Balakrishnan, Christopher N., Louder, Amber A.N., Driver, Robert J., London, Sarah E., Hauber, Mark E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 02.12.2019
• Subjects: auditory cortex; critical period; imprinting; learning; neuroplasticity; recognition; songbird; auditory cortex; critical period; imprinting; songbird; recognition; learning; neuroplasticity

How does a naive, young animal decide from which adults to learn behavior? Obligate brood parasitic birds, including brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater), face a particular challenge in learning species-specific behaviors; they lay their eggs in the nest of another species, and juveniles are raise...