Using a natural approach to elucidate the neural mechanisms of alarm calling behaviour in birds.

Introduction

“Watch out!” - is the term we use to inform somebody about a potentially dangerous situation. “Take cover!” - we shout when the threat is imminent. Not only humans but also animals use alarm calls to warn conspecifics about danger, and the value of these signals for increasing the chance of survival in the receiver is without controversy.

The Paradox of Alarm Calls

However, alarm calls often harm the sender through their production and are therefore considered an evolutionary paradox, which has fascinated scientists for many decades. While the function, development, and evolution of alarm calls have been extensively studied, the proximate mechanisms relating to how the brain controls alarm call production or the reactions to alarm calls are unknown.

Importance of Understanding Neural Systems

Uncovering the brain’s role in antipredator behaviour, such as alarm calling, is fundamentally important for understanding how neural systems facilitate decision-making in life-threatening situations.

Project Overview

My project will be the first in studying the neural basis of alarm calling behaviour and will exploit a unique and completely natural approach. Brain activity at the cellular level will be wirelessly recorded in parallel to individual vocal activity in groups of free-ranging, wild songbirds while they emit, listen, and react to alarm calls in their natural habitat.

Methodology

In 2017, we pioneered the application of extracellular neurophysiology during field research and are currently the only researchers worldwide who conduct neurophysiological experiments with wild animals outside a laboratory.

Targeted Brain Regions

Brain regions belonging to three different neural circuits will be targeted within my project:

1. The vocal control system
2. The hearing system
3. The fear system

Expected Outcomes

The new knowledge produced by my project will help us to understand the computations the brain has to perform when we warn others about danger or when we get warned. It will elucidate how different neural circuits naturally work together to flexibly adjust fear reactions to the threat level signalled by alarm calls.