Input and Output Connections of the Crow Nidopallium Caudolaterale

Overview

Journal eNeuro

Specialty Neurology

Date 2024 Apr 29

PMID 38684368

Authors

Ylva Kersten

Felix W Moll

Saskia Erdle

Andreas Nieder

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The avian telencephalic structure nidopallium caudolaterale (NCL) functions as an analog to the mammalian prefrontal cortex. In crows, corvid songbirds, it plays a crucial role in higher cognitive and executive functions. These functions rely on the NCL's extensive telencephalic connections. However, systematic investigations into the brain-wide connectivity of the NCL in crows or other songbirds are lacking. Here, we studied its input and output connections by injecting retrograde and anterograde tracers into the carrion crow NCL. Our results, mapped onto a published carrion crow brain atlas, confirm NCL multisensory connections and extend prior pigeon findings by identifying a novel input from the hippocampal formation. Furthermore, we analyze crow NCL efferent projections to the arcopallium and report newly identified arcopallial neurons projecting bilaterally to the NCL. These findings help to clarify the role of the NCL as central executive hub in the corvid songbird brain.

Citing Articles

Exploring Anatomical Links Between the Crow's Nidopallium Caudolaterale and Its Song System.

Moll F, Kersten Y, Erdle S, Nieder A J Comp Neurol. 2025; 533(2):e70028.

PMID: 39921575 PMC: 11806514. DOI: 10.1002/cne.70028.

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