Sleep and memory consolidation during vocal learning in songbirds

• Applicant: Janie Ondracek, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Cognitive, Systems and Behavioural Neurobiology ; Sensory and Behavioural Biology
• Term: from 2018 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 398944616

Sleep is a naturally occurring behavior that occupies roughly one-third of our lives. Reduced consciousness, inhibited sensory activity, and a reduction in body movement characterize the inactive state of sleep, yet paradoxically, the brain remains highly active. What vital function is achieved by this activity?One view, well supported by data, is that sleep benefits memory. Humans perform better in memory-related tasks after sleep compared to wakefulnesss. Although many animals are capable of learning complicated behavioral tasks, the vocal learning paradigm of songbirds is one of the few innate learning behaviors that can be used to directly study the effects of sleep on learning and memory. By understanding how vocal learning is related to brain activity during sleep, we may uncover the link between sleep, learning, and the consolidation of recently acquired memories.My goals in this project are the following: First, I will record sleep-related signals from the brains of juvenile songbirds during vocal learning. Next, I will contrast brain activity during slow wave sleep and REM sleep with awake vocal performance, correlating song variability with sleeping activity. Finally, in order understand the motor and auditory aspects of song learning, I will chronically record from neurons in auditory and premotor areas to observe the memory traces of vocal learning. These experiments will provide greater insight into the vital functions of sleep and its role in memory consolidation.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants