Research Interests:
The primary function of the nervous system is to enable behavioral
adaptation to the environment. Neural plasticity underlies adaptation.
Thus, understanding the nervous system requires a comprehensive
knowledge of neural plasticity. Behavioral, systems, cellular, and
molecular aspects of various forms of plasticity, such as development
and learning, have been examined in thousands of studies. Yet, the
basic mechanisms underlying the modification of behavior are not
well-understood. Only a combination of approaches used in parallel
will reveal the complex relationships of brain and behavior.
My laboratory uses a vertebrate model, the songbird, in the study
of neural mechanisms of behavioral modulation. As in mammals, the
brain of birds contains neural control areas such as the thalamus,
basal ganglia, limbic system (e.g. hippocampus), and a cortex homolog.
The song system is a dedicated neural circuit that includes cortical
nuclei. Its discrete, nuclear structure enables precise excision
and manipulation of functional units in a complex network. Further
strengths of this system are that (1) the song behavior is easily
recorded and analyzed; (2) the learning of song follows a well-established
time-course; (3) the acquisition of the song behavior can be manipulated
easily; and (4) the anatomical development of the song system occurs
in parallel with the development of song. Thus, the songbird is
a preparation that can be examined with top-down and bottom-up approaches.
We use a combination of techniques ranging from spectral analysis
of song behavior to whole-cell patch clamping of neurons to test
hypotheses regarding the control of neural activity and its relationship
to behavior.
Selected Publications:
Crandall SR, Adam M, Kinnischtzke AK, Nick TA. HVC neural sleep activity increases with development and parallels nightly changes in song behavior. J Neurophysiol. 2007 Jul;98(1):232-40.
Crandall SR, Aoki N, Nick TA. Developmental modulation of the temporal relationship between brain and behavior. J Neurophysiol. 2007 Jan;97(1):806-16.
Nick TA, Konishi M. Neural auditory selectivity develops in parallel with song. J Neurobiol. 2005 Mar;62(4):469-81.
Nick TA, Konishi M. Neural song preference during vocal learning in the zebra finch depends on age and state. J Neurobiol. 2005 Feb 5;62(2):231-42.
Nick, T.A. and Konishi, M. (2001). Dynamic control of auditory
activity during sleep: Correlation between song response and EEG.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 98(24):14012-14016.
Current Graduate Students:
Nancy Day (Neuroscience, University of Minnesota).
Stephen Kerrigan (Neuroscience, University of Minnesota).
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