Design of a robotic zebra finch for experimental studies on developmental song learning

Abstract

Birdsong learning has been consolidated as the model system of choice for exploring the biological substrates of vocal learning. In the Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata), only males sing and they develop their song during a sensitive period in early life. Different experimental procedures have been used in the laboratory to train a young finch to learn a song. So far, the best method to get a faithful imitation is to keep a young bird singly with an adult male. Here we present the different characteristics of a robotic zebra finch that was developed with the goal to be used as a song tutor. The robot is morphologically similar to a real-size finch: it can produce movements and sounds contingently to the behaviours of a live bird. We present preliminary results on song imitation, and other possible applications beyond the scope of developmental song learning.

RoboFinch: A versatile audio‐visual synchronised robotic bird model for laboratory and field research on songbirds

“…The observation that the juveniles exposed to the synchronised RoboFinch stopped singing during presentations shows that these tutees behaved most similar to live tutored birds when exposed to adult tutor song. This is different from an operant use of an animated zebra finch model (Araguas et al, 2022), where tutees that actively approached the animated model were rewarded with song by the experimenter (here the model was thus reacting to the tutees, not vice versa as in live tutoring and our setup). With these reversed contingencies, the operant tutor group in this other robot study learned comparably well as a control live tutored group, when both groups got 1 h/day with the respective models.…”

“…With these reversed contingencies, the operant tutor group in this other robot study learned comparably well as a control live tutored group, when both groups got 1 h/day with the respective models. Other studies have used operant tutoring methods but not systematically controlled the presence/absence of visual cues of sound production or looked at contingencies between tutor (song) and tutee behaviour (Araguas et al, 2022; Carouso‐Peck et al, 2020; Carouso‐Peck & Goldstein, 2019; Chen et al, 2016; Derégnaucourt, 2011; Houx & ten Cate, 1999; Tchernichovski et al, 1999). These studies did therefore not address the question as to whether the multimodal nature of the song stimulus is perhaps at the base of improved vocal learning.…”

“…Traditionally, the analysis of the relevant stimuli for song learning has focused on audio playbacks, sometimes supplemented with different visual components, such as non‐animated clay or plasticine models, taxidermic mounts or video presentations (Bolhuis et al, 1999; Derégnaucourt et al, 2013; Gobes & Bolhuis, 2007; Varkevisser et al, 2021). Only recently have animated robots been employed to mimic the visual presence of a bird (Araguas et al, 2022; Simon et al, 2019). These previous attempts however did not synchronise sound and movement of their robotic bird during song development.…”

CineFinch: An animated female zebra finch for studying courtship interactions

“…Our animations and the use of these animations in conjunction with video game engines (like Unreal Engine) provide a novel way to study social interactions in birds. Recent studies have used a robotic zebra finch for studying social interactions between juvenile birds and a tutor (the robotic bird) (Araguas et al, 2022). While a robot provides physical interactions that animations cannot provide, animations can be built and manipulated more easily.…”

“…This suggests that the visual stimulus of the tutor and possibly social interactions with a tutor are also important for accurate learning. While the mere presence of a visual tutor, in the form of a video, is not sufficient to enhance learning (Varkevisser et al, 2022a), a recent study showed that a robotic zebra finch that vocally interacts with juvenile birds does enhance learning (Araguas et al, 2022). Importantly, the robotic zebra finch provided closed-loop vocal interactions, i.e.…”