Topic: acoustic variability

The basal ganglia-thalamocortical (BGT) circuit controls the acquisition and production of motor skills in vertebrates, particularly human speech. Motor skills are hypothetically learned through reinforcement learning (RL). In songbirds, male juvenile zebra finches mimic the vocalizations of adults. Even in adulthood, their song may undergo slight modifications. The circuits underlying song learning and plasticity are called the song system.The song system, including the BGT loop and motor pathway, assesses vocal performance and controls song execution. The lateral magnocellular nucleus of the