Lateralization of magnetic compass orientation in pigeons

Wilzeck, Christiane; Wiltschko, Wolfgang; Güntürkün, Onur; Wiltschko, Roswitha; Prior, Helmut

doi:10.1098/rsif.2009.0436.focus

Cited by 24 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…In addition, the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve is activated by a changing magnetic-field stimulus and relays this information to the bird brainstem [49]. It is likely that also pigeons sense the magnetic field in terms of a magnetic compass and/or local magnetic deviations [25,50,51]. In this case, our pigeons possibly perceived a visual and a trigeminal stimulation that accompanied the changes of the strong magnetic field within the scanner.…”

Section: Mri Of Awake Pigeonsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Functional MRI and functional connectivity of the visual system of awake pigeons

Groof

Jonckers

Güntürkün

et al. 2013

Behavioural Brain Research

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h i g h l i g h t sFirst study to image the whole brain of awake pigeons. We show a habituation program for MR-sessions under awake and head-fixed conditions. Movement under these conditions is minimal. First measurement of functional connectivity in a non-mammalian species. Analyses of BOLD-response and functional connectivity are feasible. a r t i c l e i n f o b s t r a c tAt present, functional MRI (fMRI) is increasingly used in animal research but the disadvantage is that the majority of the imaging is applied in anaesthetized animals. Only a few articles present results obtained in awake rodents. In this study both traditional fMRI and resting state (rsfMRI) were applied to four pigeons, that were trained to remain still while being imaged, removing the need for anesthesia. This is the first time functional connectivity measurements are performed in a non-mammalian species. Since the visual system of pigeons is a well-known model for brain asymmetry, the focus of the study was on the neural substrate of the visual system. For fMRI a visual stimulus was used and functional connectivity measurements were done with the entopallium (E; analog for the primary visual cortex) as a seed region. Interestingly in awake pigeons the left E was significantly functionally connected to the right E. Moreover we compared connectivity maps for a seed region in both hemispheres resulting in a stronger bilateral connectivity starting from left E then from right E. These results could be used as a starting point for further imaging studies in awake birds and also provide a new window into the analysis of hemispheric dominance in the pigeon.

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Section: Mri Of Awake Pigeonsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Again mentioning just a few areas of research, these studies examined, e.g. color perception [23], optic illusions [24] and magnetoperception [25]. Awake functional MRI of pigeons would allow many of these 'learning and memory' scientific experiments while simultaneously looking at activity of the whole brain.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional MRI and functional connectivity of the visual system of awake pigeons

Groof

Jonckers

Güntürkün

et al. 2013

Behavioural Brain Research

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“…In vertebrates, the night-migrating Passeriformes [the European robin (Erithacus rubecula) and the garden warbler (Sylvia borin)], the homing pigeon (Columbia livia) and the domestic fowl (Gallus gallus) are among the most extensively studied model species because they have been shown to be able to extract compass information from the Earth's magnetic field (Wiltschko and Wiltschko, 1972;Wiltschko and Wiltschko, 2002;Mouritsen et al, 2004;Wilzeck et al, 2010;Niessner et al, 2011). In these species, experimental evidence points to CRYs as the key molecules for light-mediated, radical-pair-based magnetic compass orientation (Solov'yov et al, 2010;Mouritsen et al, 2004;Niessner et al, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cryptochrome expression in the eye of migratory birds depends on their migratory status

Fusani

Bertolucci

Frigato

et al. 2014

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Most passerine birds are nocturnal migrants. When kept in captivity during the migratory periods, these species show a migratory restlessness, or Zugunruhe. Recent studies on Sylvia warblers have shown that Zugunruhe is an excellent proxy of migratory disposition. Passerine birds can use the Earth's geomagnetic field as a compass to keep their course during their migratory flight. Among the candidate magnetoreceptive mechanisms are the cryptochromes, flavoproteins located in the retina that are supposed to perceive the magnetic field through a light-mediated process. Previous work has suggested that expression of Cryptochrome 1 (Cry1) is increased in migratory birds compared with non-migratory species. Here we tested the hypothesis that Cry1 expression depends on migratory status. Blackcaps Sylvia atricapilla were caught before fall migration and held in registration cages. When the birds were showing robust Zugunruhe, we applied a food deprivation protocol that simulates a long migratory flight. When the birds were refed after 2 days, their Zugunruhe decreased substantially, as is expected from birds that would interrupt migration for a refuelling stopover. We found that Cry1 expression was higher at night than during daytime in birds showing Zugunruhe, whereas in birds that underwent the fasting-and-refeeding protocol and reduced their levels of Zugunruhe, night Cry1 expression decreased to daytime levels. Our work shows that Cry1 expression is dependent on the presence of Zugunruhe and not on species-specific or seasonal factors, or on the birds being active versus inactive. These results support the hypothesis that cryptochromes underlie magnetoreceptive mechanisms in birds.

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“…They also employ immunohistochemical methods to test for hemispherical differences in neuronal activity. Wilzeck et al (2010) designed magnetic conditioning experiments with homing pigeons to find out whether lateralization of learned components in the orientation behaviour favours lateralization towards the left brain hemisphere. Phillips et al (2010) revisited light-dependent magnetic orientation in amphibians and insects and explore the possibility that the magnetic field may have antagonistic effects on photo-signalling pathways.…”

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confidence: 99%