Neuronal bases of categorization in starling song

Previous studies on starling song had shown that different categories of so ngs are produced and discriminated. In the present study, both playback exp eriments in the field and electrophysiological recordings of single cells i n field L (main central auditory area) were used in order to understand the perceptual bases of category recognition. In both cases, synthesized varia nts were used where different parameters could be changed. A method of back ward correlation was used in order to visualize and determine the precise e lements in song towards which the neurons responded. A high proportion of n eurons was found that responded selectively to particular features in the s pecies-specific songs. Series of neurons with similar or complementary sele ctivities were found. We did not find any 'category-detector' as such but k ey elements appeared both in neuronal selectivity and in behavioural discri minations. The data favour the propositions of the pattern recognition theo ry, with a multiple feature model. (C) 2000 Elsevier science B.V. All right s reserved.