Goal-directed learning is a key contributor to evolutionary fitness in animals. The neural
mechanisms that mediate learning often involve the neuromodulator dopamine. In higher …

The locus coeruleus (LC) is a vertebrate-specific nucleus and the primary source of
norepinephrine (NE) in the brain. This nucleus has conserved properties across species …

Song production across many songbird species is shaped by largely conserved sets of
constraints associated with song control, production, and perception. This chapter …

Vocal communication signals can provide listeners with information about the signaler and
elicit motivated responses. Auditory cortical and mesolimbic reward circuits are often …

We investigated whether nonreproductive social interactions may be rewarding for colonial
but not non-colonial species. We found that the colonial spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus) is …

The context surrounding vocal communication can have a strong influence on how vocal
signals are perceived. The serotonergic system is well-positioned for modulating the …

Neuromodulatory systems may provide information on social context to auditory brain
regions, but relatively few studies have assessed the effects of neuromodulation on auditory …

Vocal communication is critical for reproduction and survival across a wide range of species.
For vocal communication systems to function, receivers must perform a range of auditory …

The mesolimbic dopamine (DA)-pathway regulates food-reward, feeding-related behaviour
and energy balance. Evidence underscores the importance of feeding-related …

The auditory brainstem response (ABR) is important for both clinical and basic auditory
research. It is a non-invasive measure of hearing function with millisecond-level precision …