Neurobiology of Vocal Communication

Two bengalese finches are sitting on a tree branch — Two bengalese finches

Our lab aims to understand the flexible control of complex behavior. We combine traditional neuroethological approaches with behavioral training to study the neural basis of flexible song sequencing in Bengalese finches. We use a wide range of modern systems neuroscience techniques to study neural circuits involved in motor learning and flexible motor control in the avian brain.

Selected Publications

Bengalese finches:

A Koparkar*, TL Warren*, JD Charlesworth, S Shin, MS Brainard, L Veit (2024): Lesions in a songbird vocal circuit increase variability in song syntax eLife 2024; 13:93272.3 *contributed equally
L Veit, LY Tian, CJM Hernandez, MS Brainard (2021): Songbirds can learn flexible contextual control over syllable sequencing. eLife 2021;10:e61610

Carrion crows:

DA Liao, KF Brecht, L Veit, A Nieder (2024): Crows "count" the number of self-generated vocalizations. Science 384, 874-87.
L Wagener, P Rinnert, L Veit, A Nieder (2023): Crows protect visual working memory against interference. J Exp Biol. 226(5):jeb245453.
K Hartmann*, L Veit*, A Nieder (2018): Neurons in the crow nidopallium caudolaterale encode varying durations of visual working memory periods. Exp Brain Res, 236(1):215-226. *contributed equally
L Veit, G Pidpruzhnykova, A Nieder (2017): Learning Recruits Neurons Representing Previously Established Associations in the Corvid Endbrain. J Cogn Neurosci, 29(10):1712-1724
L Veit, K Hartmann, A Nieder (2017): Spatially-tuned neurons in corvid nidopallium caudolaterale signal target position during visual search. Cerebral Cortex, 27(2):1103-1112
L Veit, G Pidpruzhnykova, A Nieder (2015): Associative Learning Rapidly Establishes Neuronal Representations of Upcoming Behavioral Choices in Crows. PNAS, 112(49):15208-13
L Veit, K Hartmann, A Nieder (2014): Neuronal correlates of visual working memory in the corvid endbrain Journal of Neuroscience 34(23):7778-86
L Veit, A Nieder (2013): Abstract rule neurons in the endbrain support intelligent behaviour in corvid songbirds Nature Communications 4:2878. doi: 10.1038/ncomms3878.

Zebra finches:

L Veit, D Aronov, MS Fee (2011): Learning to breathe and sing: Development of respiratory-vocal coordination in young songbirds Journal of Neurophysiology 106(4):1247-65
D Aronov, L Veit, J Goldberg, MS Fee (2011): Two distinct modes of forebrain circuit dynamics underlie temporal patterning in the vocalizations of young songbirds Journal of Neuroscience 31(45):16353-68