Understanding the sensorimotor control of the endless variety of human speech patterns stands as one of the apex problems in neuroscience. The capacity to learn – through imitation – to rapidly sequence vocal sounds in meaningful patterns is clearly one of the most derived of human behavioral traits. Selection pressure produced an analogous capacity in numerous species of vocal-learning birds, and due to an increasing appreciation for the cognitive and computational flexibility of avian cortex and basal ganglia, a general understanding of the forebrain network that supports the learning and production of birdsong is beginning to emerge. Here, we review recent advances in experimental studies of the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata), which offer new insights into the network dynamics that support this surprising analogue of human speech learning and production.

理解人类语言模式无穷无尽的感觉运动控制是神经科学中的最高问题之一。通过模仿来学习以有意义的模式快速排列声音的能力显然是人类行为特质中最衍生的一种。选择压力在许多种类的有声学习鸟类中产生了类似的能力，并且由于对鸟类皮层和基底神经节的认知和计算灵活性的日益增长的认识，对支持鸟类学习和生产的前脑网络的一般理解是开始出现。在这里，我们回顾斑马雀（Taeniopygia guttata）的实验研究的最新进展。），从而为网络动力学提供了新的见解，从而为人类语音学习和制作提供了令人惊讶的类似模拟。