Neuroethology Group

Although not always made explicit, the major goal of neuroscientific endeavour is to provide an explanation of behaviour. The behaviour we are trying to explain in this laboratory is vocal behaviour, which has two fundamental aspects: vocal production and vocal learning. Vocal production involves the highly coordinated action of many muscles belonging to the vocal, articulatory and respiratory systems.

Some of the questions that are of concern include the following:

• What are the neuroanatomical pathways that mediate control of these different aspects of vocalisation?
• How are the various control nuclei in the brain and spinal cord connected to each other? What is the precise role of the different nuclei in controlling vocal output?
• How is the respiratory rhythm changed in the service of vocalisation - at the systems and cellular levels?
• How is the control of articulatory structures (jaw, tongue, lips, etc) linked to that of vocal (e.g. laryngeal) and respiratory structures?
• What are the types of sensory input from each of the three systems that may play a role in modulating vocal output and how do they exert their effects?

Vocal learning entails the development of species typical vocalisations, including speech in humans, by reference to an auditory model; in other words vocal learning is auditory-vocal learning.

Some of the questions that are of concern in this context are:

• What distinguishes a vocal learner from a non-vocal learning species - in what respects do their brains differ?
• How do the vocal control nuclei and pathways develop and are there sex differences in this development?
• Are there parts of the auditory system that are specifically tuned to the perception of vocal sounds?
• Are there innate preferences for vocal learning?
• What are the connections between nuclei involved in auditory perception and cortical areas involved in vocal control?
• How are auditory signals transformed into or mapped onto vocal motor commands?
• Are there critical or sensitive periods for vocal development in different species of vocal learners?
• How are these critical periods brought about and what are their neurochemical controls?

• Nils Kruetzfeldt

• Jeremy Corfield (with SBS)
• Priscilla Logerot
• Anna Gsell (Massey University)

• Silke Fuchs

• Respiratory-vocal integration
• Anatomy and physiology of the auditory system
• Anatomical organisation of visual pathways
• Reproductive pathways
• Magnetoreception
• Structure and development of communication signals
• Development of the brainstem
• Neurogenesis in sharks Kiwi neuroethology
• Brain evolution

• Royal Society of New Zealand
• Marsden Fund
• Neurological Foundation of New Zealand
• National Institutes of Health (USA)
• University of Auckland

National

• John Montgomery (SBS, University of Auckland)
• Mike Walker (SBS, University of Auckland)
• Mark E Hauber (SBS, University of Auckland)
• Stuart Parsons (SBS, University of Auckland)
• Isabel Castro (Massey, Palmerston North)
• Dianne Brunton (Massey, Albany)

International

• Richard Mooney (Duke University, USA)
• Rod Suthers (Indiana University, USA)
• Richard Hyson (Florida State University, USA)
• Sarah Woolley (Columbia University, USA)
• Marc Schmidt (Universit of Pensilvania, USA)
• Jose Luis Pena (Albert Einsten, USA)
• Annemie Van der Linden (University of Antwerp, Belgium)
• Hugo Rios (University of Buenos Aires, Argentina)
• Christine Koppl (University of Sydney, Australia)

Facilities/technology

• Tract tracing techniques for anatomical mapping
• Extracellular/intracellular physiology
• Immunocytochemistry
• General histology
• Embryonic surgery
• Neurobehavioural techniques

Research publications (since 2000)

• Kubke MF and Wild JM (2009) Evolution of avian brains. Encyclopedia of Neuroscience. Binder MD , Hirokawa N and Windhorst U (Eds.), Butler A (Section Ed.) Springer-Verlag GmbH Berlin Heidelberg pp. 1312-1318
• Wild, J.M., Kubke, M.F. and Mooney, R. Nucleus retroambigualis: its cell types and projections to other respiratory-vocal nuclei in the brain of the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata). J. Comp. Neurol. 512:768-783, 2009.
• Wild, J.M. Evolution of the Wulst. In: Encylcopedia of Neuroscience, Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, 2008.
• Kubke, M.F., J.M. Wild and R.A. Suthers. Airway receptors in birds. In: Structure, Evolution and Function of the Airway Chemoreceptors in the Vertebrates, G. Zaccone, E. Cutz, D. Adriaensen, C. Nurse and A. Maucer, eds. Science Publishers, Enfield, NH, 2008.
• Gagliardo, A., P. Ioalè, M. Savini, and M. Wild. Navigational abilities of homing pigeons deprived of olfactory or trigeminally mediated magnetic information when young. J. Exp Biol, 211:2046-2051, 2008.
• Wild, J.M. Birdsong: Anatomical foundations and central mechanisms of sensorimotor integration In: Neuroscience of Birdsong, H.P. Zeigler and P. Marler (eds), Cambridge University Press, 2008, pp 136-151.
• Poirier, C., M. Vellema, V. Van Meir, J.M. Wild, J. Balthazart and A. Van der Linden. A three-dimensional MRI atlas of the zebra finch brain in stereotaxic coordinates. NeuroImage, 41:1-6, 2008 – including front cover.
• Corfield, J., J.M. Wild, S. Parsons, B. Cowan and M.F. Kubke. MRI of postmortem specimens of endangered species for comparative brain anatomy. Nature Protocols, 3:597-605, 2008.
• Wild, J.M., M.F. Kubke and J.L. Pena. A pathway for predation in the brain of the barn owl: Projections of the gracile nucleus to the ‘claw area’ of the rostral Wulst, via the dorsal thalamus. J. Comp. Neurol., 509:156-166, 2008.
• Roberts, T.F., M.E. Klein, M.F. Kubke, J.M. Wild and R. Mooney. Telencephalic neurons monosynaptically link brainstem and forebrain premotor networks necessary for song. J Neurosci. 28:3479-89, 2008. 
• Corfield, J., J.M. Wild, S. Parsons, M.E. Hauber and MF. Kubke. Evolution of brain size in the Palaeognath lineage, with an emphasis on New Zealand ratites. Brain Behav. & Evol., 71:87-99, 2008 – including front cover.
• Roberts, T., J.M. Wild, M.F. Kubke and R. Mooney. Homogeneity of intrinsic properties of sexually dimorphic vocal motoneurons in male and female zebra finches. J. Comp Neurol, 502:157-169, 2007. 
• Atoji, Y. and J.M. Wild. Limbic system in birds: morphological basis. In Integration of Comparative Neuroanatomy and Comparative Cognition, S. Watanabe and M. Hofman, Eds, Keio University Pess, Tokyo, 2007, pp 97-124.
• Coleman, M., A. Roy, J.M. Wild and R. Mooney. Thalamic gating of auditory responses in the telencephalic song control nucleus HVC. J Neurosci, 27:10024-10036, 2007.
• Martin, G.R., K.-J. Wilson, J.M. Wild, S. Parsons, F. Kubke and J. Corfield. Kiwi forego vision in the guidance of their nocturnal activities. PLoS One, 2(2):e198, 2007.
• Ryan, S., P. Blyth, N. Duggan, J.M. Wild, and S. Al-Ali Is the cranial accessory nerve really a portion of the accessory nerve? The anatomy of the cranial nerves in the jugular foramen. Anat. Sci. Int., 82:1-7, 2007. 
• Atoji, Y., S. Saito and J.M. Wild. Fiber connections of the compact division of the posterior pallial amygdala and lateral part of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis in the pigeon (Columba livia). J. Comp. Neurol., 499:161-182, 2006.
• Gagliardo A, Ioale P, Savini M, Wild JM.Having the nerve to home: trigeminal magnetoreceptor versus olfactory mediation of homing in pigeons. J Exp Biol. 2006 Aug;209(Pt 15):2888-92.
• Kubke MF, Carr CE and Wild JM (2006) Evolution of the Auditory System (editorial) Int J Comp Psych 19(1)IV-VI. Kubke MF and Carr CE (2006) Morphological variation in the nucleus laminaris of birds. Int J Comp Psych 19(1)83-97.
• Atoji Y, Wild JM. Anatomy of the avian hippocampal formation. Rev Neurosci. 2006;17(1-2):3-15. Ashmore RC, Wild JM, Schmidt MF. Brainstem and forebrain contributions to the generation of learned motor behaviors for song. J Neurosci. 2005 Sep 14;25(37):8543-54.
• Krutzfeldt NO, Wild JM. Definition and novel connections of the entopallium in the pigeon (Columba livia). J Comp Neurol. 2005 Sep 12;490(1):40-56.
• Kubke MF, Yazaku-Sugiyama Y, Mooney R, Wild JM. (2005) Physiology of neuronal subtypes in the respiratory-vocal integration nucleus retroambigualis in the male zebra finch J Neurophysiol. 94(4):2379-90
• Kubke MF and Carr CE (2005) Development of sound localizing circuits. In: Sound Localisation. Springer Handbook for Auditory Research, Springer Verlag
• Atoji, Y. and J.M. Wild. (2005) Afferent and efferent connections of the dorsolateral corticoid area and a comparison with connections of the temporo-parieto-occipital area in the pigeon (Columba livia). J. Comp. Neurol. 485(2):165-82.
• Jarvis, E.D., O. Güntürkün, L. Bruce, A. Csillag, H. Karten, W. Kuenzel, L Medina, G. Paxinos, D.J. Perkel, T. Shimizu, G. Striedter, J. M. Wild, G.F. Ball, J. Dugas-Ford, S.E. Durand, G.E. Hough, S. Husband, L. Kubikova, D.W. Lee, C.V. Mello, A. Powers, C. Siang, T.V. Smulders, K. Wada, S.A. White, K. Yamamoto, J. Yu, A. Reiner, A.B. Butler. (2005) Avian brains and a new understanding of vertebrate brain evolution. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 6(2):151-9.
• Wild, J.M., M.N. Williams, G.J. Howie and R. Mooney. (2005) Calcium binding proteins define interneurons in HVC of the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata). J. Comp. Neurol. 483(1):76-90. 
• Wild, J.M. (2004) Functional neuroanatomy of the sensorimotor control of singing. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 1016:438-462.
• Mora, C.V., M. Davison, J.M. Wild and M.M. Walker. (2004) Magnetoreception and its trigeminal mediation in the homing pigeon. Nature, 432:508-511.
•  Kubke, M.F., J.M. Ross and J.M. Wild. (2004) Vagal innervation of the air sacs in a songbird, Taeniopygia guttata. J. Anat. (Lond), 204:283-292, 2004.
• Atoji, Y. and J.M. Wild. (2004) Fiber connections of the hippocampal formation and septum and subdivisions of the hippocampal formation in the pigeon as revealed by tract tracing and kainic acid lesions. J. Comp. Neurol., 426-461.
•  Kreutzfeldt, NEO and J.M. Wild. (2004) Definition and connections of the entopallium in the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata). J. Comp. Neurol., 2004, 468:452-465.
•  Reiner, A, DJ. Perkel, L Bruce, AB. Butler, A. Csillag, W. Kuenzel, L. Medina, G. Paxinos, T. Shimizu, G. Striedter, JM. Wild, GF. Ball, S. Durand, O. Güntürkün, D. Lee, CV. Mello, A. Powers, SA. White, G. Hough, L. Kubikova, TV. Smulders, K. Wada, J. Dugas-Ford, S. Husband, K. Yamamoto, J. Yu, C. Siang, and E.D. Jarvis. (2004) The avian brain nomenclature forum: terminology for a new century in comparative neuroanatomy. J. Comp. Neurol. 473:E1-E6.
• Reiner, A., L Bruce, A Butler, A Csillag, W Kuenzel, L Medina, G Paxinos, D Perkel, T Shimizu, G Striedter, M Wild, G Ball, S Durand, O Gunturkun, D Lee, CV Mello, A Powers, S White, G Hough, L Kubikova, TV Smulders, K Wada, J Dugas-Ford, S Husband, K Yamamoto, J Yu, C Siang, ED Jarvis (2004) Revised Nomenclature for avian telencephalon and some related brainstem nuclei. J. Comp. Neurol., 473:377-414.
• Kubke MF, Massoglia D, Carr CE (2004) Bigger brains or bigger nuclei? Regulating the size of auditory structures in birds. Brain Behav Evol 63(3): 169-180.
• Sturdy, C.B., J.M. Wild, and R. Mooney. (2003) Respiratory and telencephalic modulation of vocal motor neurons in the zebra finch. J. Neurosci. 23:1072-186.
•  Suthers, R.A., F. Goller, and J.M. Wild. (2002) Somatosensory feedback modulates the respiratory motor program of crystallized birdsong. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 99:5680-5685.
•   Atoji, Y., J.M. Wild, Y. Yamamoto and Y. Suzuki. (2002) Intratelencephalic connections of the hippocampus in pigeons (Columba livia). J. Comp. Neurol., 447:177-199.
• Kubke MF, Massoglia DM, Carr CE. (2002) Developmental changes underlying the formation of the specialized time coding circuits in barn owls (Tyto alba). J Neurosci 22:7671-7679.
• Kubke MF, Dent ML, Hodos W, Carr CE, Dooling RJ (2002) Nucleus magnocellularis and nucleus laminaris in belgian waterslager and normal strain canaries. Hear Res 164:19-28. 
• Wild M, Kubke MF, Carr CE (2001) Tonotopic and somatotopic representation in the nucleus basalis of the barn owl, Tyto alba. Brain Behav Evol 57:39-62.
• Wild, J.M., M.N. Williams and R.A. Suthers. (2001) Parvalbumin-positive projection neurons characterise the vocal premotor pathway in male, but not female, zebra finches. Brain Res., 917:235-252.
• Williams, M.N. and J.M. Wild. (2001) Trigeminally innervated iron-containing structures in the beak of homing pigeons, and other birds. Brain Res., 889:243-246.
• Wild, J.M., M.N. Williams, and R.A. Suthers. (2001) Neural pathways for bilateral vocal control in songbirds. J. Comp. Neurol. 423:413-426. 
• Wild, J.M. and M.N. Williams. (2000) A direct cerebro-cerebellar projection in adult birds and rats. Neuroscience 96:333-339.
• Wild, J.M. and M.N. Williams. (2000) Rostral Wulst in passerine birds. I. Origin, course and terminations of an avian 'pyramidal tract'. J. Comp. Neurol. 416:429-450.
• Kubke MF, Carr CE (2000) Development of the auditory brainstem of birds: comparison between barn owls and chickens. Hear Res 147:1-20