ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the neural systems underlying birdsong in the context of what is known about the neurophysiology of interval timing in mammals. The song types are separated by variable intervals of time that may be as short as 5 sec during an intense bout of singing. The ability to independently time each perceived syllable within the song in relation to song completion may facilitate the emergence of specific patterns of motor production, as observed in other examples of simultaneous temporal processing. The presence of cortico-striatal modules gives further support to the emerging belief that the mammalian striatum contributes to cognition in addition to motor processes. The anterior forebrain pathway is a pathway that parts from high vocal center only to append with the posterior motor pathway at the level of robustus archistriatalis. A similar distributed, interactive cortico-striatal motif may be present in mammals insofar that a sensory module may influence the acquisition of behavioral output through a motor module.
