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The Journal of Neuroscience, May 14, 2008, 28(20):5394-5400; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5706-07.2008

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Behavioral/Systems/Cognitive
The Relationship between Nature of Social Change, Age, and Position of New Neurons and Their Survival in Adult Zebra Finch Brain

Einat Adar,¹ Fernando Nottebohm,² and Anat Barnea³

¹Department of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv 61391, Israel, ²The Rockefeller University Field Research Center, Millbrook, New York 12545, and ³Department of Natural and Life Sciences, The Open University of Israel, Raanana 43107, Israel

Correspondence should be addressed to Anat Barnea, Department of Natural and Life Sciences, P.O. Box 808, 108 Ravutski Street, The Open University of Israel, Raanana 43107, Israel. Email: anatba{at}openu.ac.il

Some kinds of neurons are spontaneously recruited in the intact, healthy adult brain, but the variables that affect their survival are not always clear. We show that in caudal nidopallium of adult male zebra finches, the rostrocaudal position of newly recruited neurons, their age (1 vs 3 months), and the nature of social change (complex vs simple) after the neurons were born affect their survival. Greater social complexity promoted the survival of younger new neurons, and the demise of older ones; a less marked social change promoted the survival of older new neurons. These effects were position dependent. We suggest that functional correlations between new neuron recruitment/survival and its inferred benefit to the animal might be better perceived when taking into account the position of cells, their age at the time of life style changes, and the nature and magnitude of the life style change.

Key words: songbirds; neuronal age; neuronal replacement; adult brain; nidopallium caudale; information load

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Received Dec. 23, 2007; revised April 13, 2008; accepted April 16, 2008.

Correspondence should be addressed to Anat Barnea, Department of Natural and Life Sciences, P.O. Box 808, 108 Ravutski Street, The Open University of Israel, Raanana 43107, Israel. Email: anatba{at}openu.ac.il

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