DTI Eigenvalues in Grey Matter: A Songbird's Perspective

¹Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; ²Vision Lab, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; ³Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK; ⁴Ethology Research Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; ⁵Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Section, K.U. Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

This study investigates seasonal changes of grey matter in the songbird brain using Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI). Here we focused on the nuclei of the 'social behaviour network' and a auditory sensory processing region. Nine male starlings were measured in both the breeding and the non-breeding season. We found a decrease of the third eigenvalue from the diffusion tensor from breeding to non-breeding season in all regions demonstrating a change in aromatase expression. This indicates that not only the song control system changes between seasons but other relevant structures in the brain also.