Behavior as produced by muscle motion comprises the largest output of our brain, but it is unknown how muscle performance limits motor learning of precise and complex motor skills such as human speech and birdsong. Due to extraordinary demands on vocal production, songbirds quickly learn to make their complex songs using superfast muscles, the fastest muscles known. I am pursuing an integrative approach to study how motor performance shapes learning of complex motor skills across multiple levels of organization in songbirds by causally linking gene regulation of molecular motors to whole muscle performance and song behavior.
Provider: FNU
Total amount of grant: 2.238.640
Period: 1.7.17-30.6.18