Divergence in problem-solving skills is associated with differential expression of glutamate receptors in wild finches

Jean-Nicolas Audet; Lima Kayello; Simon Ducatez; Sara Perillo; Laure Cauchard; Jason T. Howard; Lauren A. O'Connell; Erich D. Jarvis; Louis Lefebvre

doi:10.1126/sciadv.aao6369

Divergence in problem-solving skills is associated with differential expression of glutamate receptors in wild finches

Jean-Nicolas Audet^* (Corresponding Author), Lima Kayello, Simon Ducatez, Sara Perillo, Laure Cauchard, Jason T. Howard, Lauren A. O'Connell, Erich D. Jarvis, Louis Lefebvre

^*Corresponding author for this work

Aberdeen Centre For Environmental Sustainability

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Problem solving and innovation are key components of intelligence. We compare wild-caught individuals from two species that are close relatives of Darwin's finches, the innovative Loxigilla barbadensis, and its most closely related species in Barbados, the conservative Tiaris bicolor. We found an all-or-none difference in the problem-solving capacity of the two species. Brain RNA sequencing analyses revealed interspecific differences in genes related to neuronal and synaptic plasticity in the intrapallial neural populations (mesopallium and nidopallium), especially in the nidopallium caudolaterale, a structure functionally analogous to the mammalian prefrontal cortex. At a finer scale, we discovered robust differences in glutamate receptor expression between the species. In particular, the GRIN2B/GRIN2A ratio, known to correlate with synaptic plasticity, was higher in the innovative L. barbadensis. These findings suggest that divergence in avian intelligence is associated with similar neuronal mechanisms to that of mammals, including humans.

Original language	English
Article number	6369
Number of pages	8
Journal	Science Advances
Volume	4
Issue number	3
Early online date	14 Mar 2018
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aao6369
Publication status	Published - Mar 2018

Bibliographical note

Funding: J.-N.A. was supported by Fonds Québécois de la Recherche sur la Nature et les Technologies and Hydro-Québec doctoral scholarships, L.K. by a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) master’s scholarship, S.D. by a postdoctoral fellowship from the Fondation Fyssen, L.A.O. by a Bauer Fellowship from Harvard University, E.D.J. by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and L.L. by an NSERC discovery grant.

Data Availability Statement

All data needed to evaluate the conclusions in the paper are present in the paper and/or the Supplementary Materials. Additional data related to this paper may be requested from the authors.

Supplementary material for this article is available at http://advances.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/4/3/eaao6369/DC1

Keywords

BRAIN SIZE
ANTILLEAN BULLFINCHES
BIRDS
INNOVATION
NMDA
INTELLIGENCE
MECHANISMS
FOREBRAIN
EVOLUTION
PRIMATES

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Cite this

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title = "Divergence in problem-solving skills is associated with differential expression of glutamate receptors in wild finches",

abstract = "Problem solving and innovation are key components of intelligence. We compare wild-caught individuals from two species that are close relatives of Darwin's finches, the innovative Loxigilla barbadensis, and its most closely related species in Barbados, the conservative Tiaris bicolor. We found an all-or-none difference in the problem-solving capacity of the two species. Brain RNA sequencing analyses revealed interspecific differences in genes related to neuronal and synaptic plasticity in the intrapallial neural populations (mesopallium and nidopallium), especially in the nidopallium caudolaterale, a structure functionally analogous to the mammalian prefrontal cortex. At a finer scale, we discovered robust differences in glutamate receptor expression between the species. In particular, the GRIN2B/GRIN2A ratio, known to correlate with synaptic plasticity, was higher in the innovative L. barbadensis. These findings suggest that divergence in avian intelligence is associated with similar neuronal mechanisms to that of mammals, including humans.",

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author = "Jean-Nicolas Audet and Lima Kayello and Simon Ducatez and Sara Perillo and Laure Cauchard and Howard, {Jason T.} and O'Connell, {Lauren A.} and Jarvis, {Erich D.} and Louis Lefebvre",

note = "Funding: J.-N.A. was supported by Fonds Qu{\'e}b{\'e}cois de la Recherche sur la Nature et les Technologies and Hydro-Qu{\'e}bec doctoral scholarships, L.K. by a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) master{\textquoteright}s scholarship, S.D. by a postdoctoral fellowship from the Fondation Fyssen, L.A.O. by a Bauer Fellowship from Harvard University, E.D.J. by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and L.L. by an NSERC discovery grant. ",

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AU - Ducatez, Simon

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AU - Cauchard, Laure

AU - Howard, Jason T.

AU - O'Connell, Lauren A.

AU - Jarvis, Erich D.

AU - Lefebvre, Louis

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N2 - Problem solving and innovation are key components of intelligence. We compare wild-caught individuals from two species that are close relatives of Darwin's finches, the innovative Loxigilla barbadensis, and its most closely related species in Barbados, the conservative Tiaris bicolor. We found an all-or-none difference in the problem-solving capacity of the two species. Brain RNA sequencing analyses revealed interspecific differences in genes related to neuronal and synaptic plasticity in the intrapallial neural populations (mesopallium and nidopallium), especially in the nidopallium caudolaterale, a structure functionally analogous to the mammalian prefrontal cortex. At a finer scale, we discovered robust differences in glutamate receptor expression between the species. In particular, the GRIN2B/GRIN2A ratio, known to correlate with synaptic plasticity, was higher in the innovative L. barbadensis. These findings suggest that divergence in avian intelligence is associated with similar neuronal mechanisms to that of mammals, including humans.

AB - Problem solving and innovation are key components of intelligence. We compare wild-caught individuals from two species that are close relatives of Darwin's finches, the innovative Loxigilla barbadensis, and its most closely related species in Barbados, the conservative Tiaris bicolor. We found an all-or-none difference in the problem-solving capacity of the two species. Brain RNA sequencing analyses revealed interspecific differences in genes related to neuronal and synaptic plasticity in the intrapallial neural populations (mesopallium and nidopallium), especially in the nidopallium caudolaterale, a structure functionally analogous to the mammalian prefrontal cortex. At a finer scale, we discovered robust differences in glutamate receptor expression between the species. In particular, the GRIN2B/GRIN2A ratio, known to correlate with synaptic plasticity, was higher in the innovative L. barbadensis. These findings suggest that divergence in avian intelligence is associated with similar neuronal mechanisms to that of mammals, including humans.

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KW - EVOLUTION

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ER -

Divergence in problem-solving skills is associated with differential expression of glutamate receptors in wild finches

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Data Availability Statement

Keywords

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