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Proposing a neural framework for the evolution of elaborate courtship displays

In many vertebrates, courtship occurs through the performance of elaborate behavioral displays that are as spectacular as they are complex. The question of how sexual selection acts upon these animals’ neuromuscular systems to transform a repertoire of pre-existing movements into such remarkable (if...

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Autores principales: Schwark, Ryan W, Fuxjager, Matthew J, Schmidt, Marc F
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd 2022
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9154748/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35639093
http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.74860
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author Schwark, Ryan W
Fuxjager, Matthew J
Schmidt, Marc F
author_facet Schwark, Ryan W
Fuxjager, Matthew J
Schmidt, Marc F
author_sort Schwark, Ryan W
collection PubMed
description In many vertebrates, courtship occurs through the performance of elaborate behavioral displays that are as spectacular as they are complex. The question of how sexual selection acts upon these animals’ neuromuscular systems to transform a repertoire of pre-existing movements into such remarkable (if not unusual) display routines has received relatively little research attention. This is a surprising gap in knowledge, given that unraveling this extraordinary process is central to understanding the evolution of behavioral diversity and its neural control. In many vertebrates, courtship displays often push the limits of neuromuscular performance, and often in a ritualized manner. These displays can range from songs that require rapid switching between two independently controlled ‘voice boxes’ to precisely choreographed acrobatics. Here, we propose a framework for thinking about how the brain might not only control these displays, but also shape their evolution. Our framework focuses specifically on a major midbrain area, which we view as a likely important node in the orchestration of the complex neural control of behavior used in the courtship process. This area is the periaqueductal grey (PAG), as studies suggest that it is both necessary and sufficient for the production of many instinctive survival behaviors, including courtship vocalizations. Thus, we speculate about why the PAG, as well as its key inputs, might serve as targets of sexual selection for display behavior. In doing so, we attempt to combine core ideas about the neural control of behavior with principles of display evolution. Our intent is to spur research in this area and bring together neurobiologists and behavioral ecologists to more fully understand the role that the brain might play in behavioral innovation and diversification.
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spelling pubmed-91547482022-06-01 Proposing a neural framework for the evolution of elaborate courtship displays Schwark, Ryan W Fuxjager, Matthew J Schmidt, Marc F eLife Evolutionary Biology In many vertebrates, courtship occurs through the performance of elaborate behavioral displays that are as spectacular as they are complex. The question of how sexual selection acts upon these animals’ neuromuscular systems to transform a repertoire of pre-existing movements into such remarkable (if not unusual) display routines has received relatively little research attention. This is a surprising gap in knowledge, given that unraveling this extraordinary process is central to understanding the evolution of behavioral diversity and its neural control. In many vertebrates, courtship displays often push the limits of neuromuscular performance, and often in a ritualized manner. These displays can range from songs that require rapid switching between two independently controlled ‘voice boxes’ to precisely choreographed acrobatics. Here, we propose a framework for thinking about how the brain might not only control these displays, but also shape their evolution. Our framework focuses specifically on a major midbrain area, which we view as a likely important node in the orchestration of the complex neural control of behavior used in the courtship process. This area is the periaqueductal grey (PAG), as studies suggest that it is both necessary and sufficient for the production of many instinctive survival behaviors, including courtship vocalizations. Thus, we speculate about why the PAG, as well as its key inputs, might serve as targets of sexual selection for display behavior. In doing so, we attempt to combine core ideas about the neural control of behavior with principles of display evolution. Our intent is to spur research in this area and bring together neurobiologists and behavioral ecologists to more fully understand the role that the brain might play in behavioral innovation and diversification. eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd 2022-05-31 /pmc/articles/PMC9154748/ /pubmed/35639093 http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.74860 Text en © 2022, Schwark et al https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) , which permits unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.
spellingShingle Evolutionary Biology
Schwark, Ryan W
Fuxjager, Matthew J
Schmidt, Marc F
Proposing a neural framework for the evolution of elaborate courtship displays
title Proposing a neural framework for the evolution of elaborate courtship displays
title_full Proposing a neural framework for the evolution of elaborate courtship displays
title_fullStr Proposing a neural framework for the evolution of elaborate courtship displays
title_full_unstemmed Proposing a neural framework for the evolution of elaborate courtship displays
title_short Proposing a neural framework for the evolution of elaborate courtship displays
title_sort proposing a neural framework for the evolution of elaborate courtship displays
topic Evolutionary Biology
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9154748/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35639093
http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.74860
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