A distributed neural network model for the distinct roles of medial and lateral HVC in zebra finch song production

Abstract

Zebra finch song consists of a string of syllables repeated in a nearly invariant sequence. We propose a neural network organization that can explain recent data indicating that the medial and lateral portions of the premotor cortical nucleus HVC have different roles in zebra finch song production. Our model explains these data, as well as data on the effects on song of cooling HVC, and makes predictions that we test in the singing bird.