Although classically known as an endocrine signal produced by the ovary, 17β-estradiol (E
2) is also a neurosteroid produced in neurons and astrocytes in the brain of many different …

This review explores the role of aromatase in the brain as illuminated by a set of conserved
network-level connections identified in several vertebrate taxa. Aromatase-expressing …

It was assumed for a long time that sex steroids are activating reproductive behaviors by the
same mechanisms that produce their morphological and physiological effects in the …

Songbirds have emerged as exceptional research subjects for helping us appreciate and
understand estrogen synthesis and function in brain. In the context of recognizing the …

Estrogens such as estradiol (E2) are potent effectors of neural structure and function via
peripheral and central synthesis. In the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata), neural E2 …

Sensory neurons parse millisecond-variant sound streams like birdsong and speech with
exquisite precision. The auditory pallial cortex of vocal learners like humans and songbirds …

Vocal learning is a complex acquired social behavior that has been found only in very few
animals. The process of animal vocal learning requires the participation of sensorimotor …

In this mini-review, we summarize the brain distribution of aromatase, the enzyme catalyzing
the synthesis of estrogens from androgens, and the mechanisms responsible for regulating …

Sensory cues such as vocalizations contain important social information. Processing social
features of vocalizations (eg, vocalizer identity, emotional state) necessitates unpacking the …

Many social animals can recognize other individuals by their vocalizations. This requires a
memory system capable of mapping incoming acoustic signals to one of many known …