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Explore the neural mechanisms underlying performance evaluation in songbirds through this 30-minute webinar presented by Dr. Vikram Gadagkar from Columbia University's Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute. Discover groundbreaking research on how dopamine neurons in zebra finches encode performance error by comparing actual versus expected vocal performance. Learn about innovative experiments using distorted auditory feedback that revealed how dopaminergic error signals respond to perceived song quality - showing suppression after distorted syllables and activation when predicted distortions don't occur. Examine new computational methods demonstrating that spontaneous dopamine activity correlates with natural song variations, proving dopamine can evaluate unperturbed natural behavior. Understand the fascinating social context modulation where male zebra finches switch between practice and performance modes - with error signals being reduced or gated off during female-directed courtship singing while dopamine neurons instead respond to female calls. Gain insights into how these findings identify the long-sought error signal for song learning, reveal neural substrates for internally-guided trial and error learning, and demonstrate dynamic tuning of dopaminergic systems based on social context. This research provides crucial understanding of how behaviors learned through trial and error are evaluated neurally when matching performance to internal goals rather than external rewards.
