Todd F. Roberts

The paper identifies how stratified palliobulbar pathways control respiratory timing and acoustics of learned vocalizations in zebra finches, revealing distinct roles for medulla and midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) projections.

The paper shows that dopamine transients at song motif onset are needed to maintain accurate adult zebra finch song, a naturally learned skilled behavior.

The paper identifies novel cellular innovations in songbird pallium associated with vocal imitation, including specialized glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons and increased astrocyte proportions.

This study shows that the zebra finch's HVC region generates learned song syllable sequences independently of major input pathways, relying on local circuits for sustained production.

The paper compares snRNA-seq data across species to identify cellular differences in the striatum, finding novel interneuron types in bats and differences in neuron-to-glia ratios between primates and non-primates.

AVN is a deep learning pipeline for analyzing zebra finch songs, providing interpretable features and comparing song phenotypes across experiments and developmental stages.

The paper maps synaptic connectivity in songbird sensorimotor circuits involved in vocal imitation, revealing modular networks and connectivity rules.

The paper investigates synaptic changes in hippocampal neurons after in vivo activity, finding bidirectional modifications in deep and superficial layers.

This study shows FoxP2 in the basal ganglia is essential for fluent birdsong initiation, termination, and syllable sequencing, with disruptions affecting dopamine receptor balance and vocal-motor sequencing.

This study shows that FoxP1 selectively impairs social learning of vocalizations but not imitation in zebra finches, highlighting a specific vulnerability in cultural transmission.

The paper identifies neuronal populations in songbirds that transition from preparatory activity to precise sequences during singing, revealing mechanisms for behavioral state transitions.

This study shows that VTA projections to the basal ganglia are sufficient to guide vocal learning in zebra finches through optogenetic manipulation.

The paper identifies thalamostriatal and cerebellothalamic pathways in the Bengalese finch, showing that specific thalamic regions project to the basal ganglia and striatum.