Functional Connection Analysis in Nidupallium Caudolaterale of Pigeons During the Operant Conditioning Learning Process

The avian nidupallium caudolaterale (NCL), a key region of cognitive learning process, it is believed that it play an important role in the process of operational conditioned learning. To reveal the changes of neural activity in operant conditioning learning process, the experimental paradigms of operant conditioning are designed in this paper. The behavioral data and local field potential (LFP) signals of three experimental periods (induction, acquisition and extinction) from the NCL of three pigeons are recorded. Then, on the basis of coherence calculation, NCL functional networks in specific frequency bands (30–60 Hz) during three experimental periods are constructed, then we analyze and compare the topology characteristics of the network. The experimental results of behavioral and LFP data analysis indicate that during the period of induction, pigeons do not establish stable operant conditioning relationship, and the connection of the network is sparse, in which the connection strength and information transmission efficiency are at a low level. In the acquisition period, pigeons can establish this relationship through learning, the functional network connection becomes tighter, and the connection strength and information transmission efficiency are significantly improved. In the extinction period in which the operant conditioning relationship is destroyed, the functional connection is weakened. These results show that pigeons can establish stable operant conditioning relationship through learning, and strengthen the functional connection of NCL, making the information transmission more efficient. This paper provides basic electrophysiological experimental evidence for further revealing the dynamic functional connection mechanism in NCL of pigeons.