Social context affects sequence modification learning in birdsong
Social interactions are crucial for imitative vocal learning such as human speech learning or song learning in songbirds. Recently, introducing specific learned modifications into adult song by experimenter-controlled reinforcement learning has emerged as a key protocol to study aspects of vocal lea...
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| Format: | Article |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1488762/full |
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| author | Lioba Fortkord Lena Veit |
| author_facet | Lioba Fortkord Lena Veit |
| author_sort | Lioba Fortkord |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Social interactions are crucial for imitative vocal learning such as human speech learning or song learning in songbirds. Recently, introducing specific learned modifications into adult song by experimenter-controlled reinforcement learning has emerged as a key protocol to study aspects of vocal learning in songbirds. This form of adult plasticity does not require conspecifics as a model for imitation or to provide social feedback on song performance. We therefore hypothesized that social interactions are irrelevant to, or even inhibit, song modification learning. We tested whether social context affects song sequence learning in adult male Bengalese finches (Lonchura striata domestica). We targeted specific syllable sequences in adult birds’ songs with negative auditory feedback, which led the birds to reduce the targeted syllable sequence in favor of alternate sequences. Changes were apparent in catch trials without feedback, indicating a learning process. Each experiment was repeated within subjects with three different social contexts (male–male, MM; male–female, MF; and male alone, MA) in randomized order. We found robust learning in all three social contexts, with a nonsignificant trend toward facilitated learning with social company (MF, MM) compared to the single-housed (MA) condition. This effect could not be explained by the order of social contexts, nor by different singing rates across contexts. Our results demonstrate that social context can influence degree of learning in adult birds even in experimenter-controlled reinforcement learning tasks, and therefore suggest that social interactions might facilitate song plasticity beyond their known role for imitation and social feedback. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2702002f5a3c454db3ce7ceb903195a1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-2702002f5a3c454db3ce7ceb903195a12025-02-05T07:32:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-02-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.14887621488762Social context affects sequence modification learning in birdsongLioba FortkordLena VeitSocial interactions are crucial for imitative vocal learning such as human speech learning or song learning in songbirds. Recently, introducing specific learned modifications into adult song by experimenter-controlled reinforcement learning has emerged as a key protocol to study aspects of vocal learning in songbirds. This form of adult plasticity does not require conspecifics as a model for imitation or to provide social feedback on song performance. We therefore hypothesized that social interactions are irrelevant to, or even inhibit, song modification learning. We tested whether social context affects song sequence learning in adult male Bengalese finches (Lonchura striata domestica). We targeted specific syllable sequences in adult birds’ songs with negative auditory feedback, which led the birds to reduce the targeted syllable sequence in favor of alternate sequences. Changes were apparent in catch trials without feedback, indicating a learning process. Each experiment was repeated within subjects with three different social contexts (male–male, MM; male–female, MF; and male alone, MA) in randomized order. We found robust learning in all three social contexts, with a nonsignificant trend toward facilitated learning with social company (MF, MM) compared to the single-housed (MA) condition. This effect could not be explained by the order of social contexts, nor by different singing rates across contexts. Our results demonstrate that social context can influence degree of learning in adult birds even in experimenter-controlled reinforcement learning tasks, and therefore suggest that social interactions might facilitate song plasticity beyond their known role for imitation and social feedback.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1488762/fullsongbirdvocalizationsocial contextmotor sequencinglearning |
| spellingShingle | Lioba Fortkord Lena Veit Social context affects sequence modification learning in birdsong Frontiers in Psychology songbird vocalization social context motor sequencing learning |
| title | Social context affects sequence modification learning in birdsong |
| title_full | Social context affects sequence modification learning in birdsong |
| title_fullStr | Social context affects sequence modification learning in birdsong |
| title_full_unstemmed | Social context affects sequence modification learning in birdsong |
| title_short | Social context affects sequence modification learning in birdsong |
| title_sort | social context affects sequence modification learning in birdsong |
| topic | songbird vocalization social context motor sequencing learning |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1488762/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT liobafortkord socialcontextaffectssequencemodificationlearninginbirdsong AT lenaveit socialcontextaffectssequencemodificationlearninginbirdsong |