Data from: Songbird frequency selectivity and temporal resolution vary with sex and season

Many species of songbirds exhibit dramatic seasonal variation in song output. Recent evidence suggests that seasonal changes in auditory processing are coincident with seasonal variation in vocal output. Here we show for the first time that frequency selectivity and temporal resolution of the songbird auditory periphery change seasonally and in a sex-specific manner. Male and female house sparrows (Passer domesticus) did not differ in their frequency sensitivity during the non-breeding season, nor did they differ in their temporal resolution. In contrast, female house sparrows showed enhanced frequency selectivity during the breeding season which was matched by a concomitant reduction of temporal resolution. However, males failed to show seasonal plasticity in either of these auditory properties. We discuss potential mechanisms generating these seasonal patterns and the implications of sex-specific seasonal changes in auditory processing for vocal communication.诸多鸣禽物种的鸣唱产出均呈现显著的季节性变化。已有研究证据表明，听觉加工（auditory processing）的季节性变化与发声产出（vocal output）的季节性波动同步发生。本研究首次证实，鸣禽听觉外周（auditory periphery）的频率选择性（frequency selectivity）与时间分辨率（temporal resolution）会随季节发生改变，且呈现性别特异性模式。在非繁殖季，雌雄家麻雀（Passer domesticus）的频率敏感性（frequency sensitivity）并无显著差异，二者的时间分辨率亦无明显区别。与之形成鲜明对比的是，雌性家麻雀在繁殖季的频率选择性显著提升，与此同时其时间分辨率出现伴随性下降；但雄性家麻雀在这两类听觉特性上均未表现出季节性可塑性（seasonal plasticity）。本研究探讨了催生这类季节性模式的潜在机制，以及听觉加工的性别特异性季节性变化对鸣唱交流的潜在意义。