Vallentin Lab

Neural Circuits for Vocal Communication

RESEARCH

We intend to explore the neural circuits driving skilled motor learning and orchestrating the coordination of precise movements. To address this topic, we are working with songbirds. These animals learn their complex vocal behavior - their song - through a self-guided learning process. During a critical period for song learning they listen to a tutor and aim to imitate its songs by practicing it hundreds of thousands of times. Once a flawless copy is achieved the song repertoire is established. Adult songbirds use this vocal collection to interact in different contexts, like mating or territory defense, and are able to precisely time their vocal interactions. We are using a combination of automated behavioral training paradigms, electrophysiological recordings in awake behaving animals, pharmacological approaches and imaging techniques to uncover how a complex vocal behavior is learned and can be executed in a precise manner. Due to the homology of brain structures in birds and mammals, studying the neural mechanisms of vocal learning and coordination in songbirds has the potential to reveal general principles of motor circuits in other animals, including humans.

 CURRENT LAB MEMBERS 

Daniela Vallentin PhD, Research Group Leader (Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Seewiesen)

Jonathan Benichov PhD, Research Scientist

Susanne Seltmann PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow

Niels Hein M.Sc., PhD student

Linda Bistere M.Sc., PhD student

Giacomo Costalunga M.Sc., PhD student

Neetash Mysuru M.Sc., PhD student

Carlos Gomez-Guzman M.Sc., PhD student

Aditi Agarwal M.Sc., PhD student

Tamir Eliav PhD., Postdoctoral Fellow

Franziska Oehlert, Research Assistant

Nicole Drenkard, Team Assistant

Meera Ramadas M.Sc., PhD student

NEWS & OPPORTUNITIES

Bird Tags - Studying Nightingales

We are researching the activity patterns and migration routes of nightingales. As part of this study, we are equipping some birds with small, lightweight tags. If you happen to find one of these tags, please help support our research by sending it to the following address:

Location

Max Planck Instiute for Biological Intelligence

Eberhard-Gwinner-Str. 11

82319 Seewiesen

Germany