Songbirds – weird brains, solid model system

Songbirds are among the few species that share with humans the ability to produce sounds through vocal imitation learning. Despite some key differences in general organization of human and songbird brains, there are some remarkable parallels between song learning and language acquisition both on the behavioral and neural level. Unraveling the cellular and molecular underpinnings of song learning could greatly further our understanding of human neurodevelopmental diseases affecting vocal learning, such as stuttering and autism spectrum disorder. However, studying functional neuroanatomy in non-traditional model systems like songbirds is often impaired by the lack of functionality of cutting-edge technology, which is typically designed for use in mice. After a brief introduction into the general principle and benefits of light sheet microscopy by Rafael Kurtz (Miltenyi Biotec) in this webinar, Daniel N. Düring will talk about some key-challenges one faces when implementing such technologies in non-traditional model systems and strategies to overcome them. He will further give an overview on the recent advances in tissue processing techniques such as clearing and expansion microscopy and how light sheet microscopy can be utilized for efficient large volume imaging at cellular and sub-cellular resolutions.