Neuroethology investigates nervous system function by relating it to innate and learned natural behaviors. It is distinguished from traditional neurobiology and psychology by being fundamentally centered in evolutionary biology, and by examining behavioral specialization across the breadth of the animal kingdom. We study multiple facets of birdsong learning, from cellular to behavioral levels of analysis, taking the neuroethological perspective.
Washington University
St. Louis
Postdoc - Bat auditory cortex
1986
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena
Ph.D. - Engineerg Science and Neurobiology; Birdsong electrophysiology
1983
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena
M.Sc. - BioInformation Systems
1981
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena
B.Sc. - Biology
1975
Timing of Speech in Brain and Glottis and the Feedback Delay Problem in Motor Control.
Timing of Speech in Brain and Glottis and the Feedback Delay Problem in Motor Control. J Neurosci. 2025 May 21; 45(21).
PMID: 40228892
Bursts from the past: Intrinsic properties link a network model to zebra finch song.
Bursts from the past: Intrinsic properties link a network model to zebra finch song. bioRxiv. 2024 May 19.
PMID: 38798332
Rhythmically bursting songbird vocomotor neurons are organized into multiple sequences, suggesting a network/intrinsic properties model encoding song and error, not time.
Rhythmically bursting songbird vocomotor neurons are organized into multiple sequences, suggesting a network/intrinsic properties model encoding song and error, not time. bioRxiv. 2023 Jan 23.
PMID: 36747673
Intrinsic plasticity and birdsong learning.
Intrinsic plasticity and birdsong learning. Neurobiol Learn Mem. 2021 04; 180:107407.
PMID: 33631346
Budgerigars have complex sleep structure similar to that of mammals.
Budgerigars have complex sleep structure similar to that of mammals. PLoS Biol. 2020 11; 18(11):e3000929.
PMID: 33201883
Rhythm: Similar Structure in Birdsong and Music Gives Neuroethological Insight.
Rhythm: Similar Structure in Birdsong and Music Gives Neuroethological Insight. Curr Biol. 2020 09 21; 30(18):R1056-R1058.
PMID: 32961164
Intrinsic neuronal properties represent song and error in zebra finch vocal learning.
Intrinsic neuronal properties represent song and error in zebra finch vocal learning. Nat Commun. 2020 02 19; 11(1):952.
PMID: 32075972
Sleep-dependent reconsolidation after memory destabilization in starlings.
Sleep-dependent reconsolidation after memory destabilization in starlings. Nat Commun. 2018 08 06; 9(1):3093.
PMID: 30082791
Differential development of retroactive and proactive interference during post-learning wakefulness.
Differential development of retroactive and proactive interference during post-learning wakefulness. Learn Mem. 2018 07; 25(7):325-329.
PMID: 29907640
Response to "Comment on 'A unifying view of synchronization for data assimilation in complex nonlinear networks'" [Chaos 28, 028101 (2018)].
Response to "Comment on 'A unifying view of synchronization for data assimilation in complex nonlinear networks'" [Chaos 28, 028101 (2018)]. Chaos. 2018 02; 28(2):028102.
PMID: 29495669