Richard Daniel Mooney | Scholars@Duke

Richard Daniel Mooney
George Barth Geller Distinguished Professor for Research in Neurobiology

Our broad research goal is to understand the neural mechanisms by which experience guides learning, behavior, and perception. Our group explores the structure and function of sensorimotor circuits important to learned vocal communication in the songbird and to auditory-motor integration in the mouse. In the course of these explorations, my research group has developed a wide range of technical expertise in both avian and mouse models, including in vivo multiphoton neuronal imaging, chronic recording of neural activity in freely behaving animals, in vivo and in vitro intracellular recordings from identified neurons, and manipulation of neuronal activity using electrical, chemical and optogenetic methods. Our group also has extensive experience with viral transgenic methods to manipulate gene expression, including genes implicated in human neurological disorders. Together, these methods provide a broad technical approach to identify the neural circuit mechanisms important to vocal learning, auditory perception and communication.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

George Barth Geller Distinguished Professor for Research in Neurobiology, Neurobiology, Basic Science Departments 2010
Professor of Neurobiology, Neurobiology, Basic Science Departments 2008
Faculty Network Member of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, University Institutes and Centers 2008

Contact Information

Box 3209, Durham, NC 27710
Bryan Research Building, 311 Research Drivebox 3209, Durham, NC 27710
mooney@neuro.duke.edu (919) 684-5025
Link to the Mooney Lab Website

Background
Education, Training, & Certifications
- Ph.D., California Institute of Technology 1991
Duke Appointment History
- Director of Graduate Studies in Neurobiology, Neurobiology, Basic Science Departments 2010 - 2013
- Associate Professor of Neurobiology, Neurobiology, Basic Science Departments 2001 - 2008
- Assistant Professor of Neurobiology, Neurobiology, Basic Science Departments 1994 - 2001
Recognition
In the News
- APR 23, 2020
  
  Price, Kornbluth and Six Senior Faculty Join American Academy of Arts & Sciences
- JUN 14, 2019
  
  Small Cluster of Neurons is Off-On Switch for Mouse Songs
- OCT 18, 2018
  
  Pupil's Brain Recognizes the Perfect Teacher
- SEP 12, 2018
  
  Brain Has Natural Noise-Cancelling Circuit
- JUL 6, 2016
  
  Neurobiology post-doc wins 5-year BWF award
- JUN 2, 2016 The Scientist
  
  Zebrafinches help with neurodegeneration research
- MAR 7, 2016
  
  Songbirds Help Pinpoint Effects of Huntington's Disease
- NOV 19, 2014
  
  Advanced Mini-Microscope Awarded to Mooney
- AUG 27, 2014
  
  Stop and Listen: Study Shows How Movement Affects Hearing
- MAR 11, 2014 Duke Research Blog
  
  Music, the Brain and Jimi Hendrix
- NOV 21, 2013
  
  Genetic Defect Keeps Verbal Cues From Hitting the Mark
- JUN 20, 2013 Technology Review
  
  Nanotube probe gives a single neuron’s view of brain activity
Awards & Honors
- Sloan Research Fellowship-Neuroscience. Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. 1997
Research
Selected Grants
- Neurobiology Training Program awarded by National Institutes of Health 2019 - 2024
- Corticostriatal contributions to motor exploration and reinforcement awarded by National Institutes of Health 2020 - 2023
- Identifying an Error Detection Circuit used for Internally Guided Learning awarded by National Institutes of Health 2020 - 2023
- Using Genetic Tools to Dissect Neural Circuits for Social Communication awarded by National Institutes of Health 2018 - 2023
- Cortical Contribution to Innate Vocalizations awarded by European Molecular Biology Organization 2020 - 2022
- Medical Scientist Training Program awarded by National Institutes of Health 1997 - 2022
- Modulation of sensory representations in the auditory cortex by callosal inputs awarded by National Institutes of Health 2019 - 2022
- Training Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology awarded by National Institutes of Health 2001 - 2022
- Auditory cortical processing of self-generated vocalizations awarded by National Institutes of Health 2019 - 2022
- Testing a model of cortico-basal ganglia support for juvenile imitative learning in zebra finches awarded by National Institutes of Health 2020 - 2022
- The synaptic basis for social context specific auditory memory formation awarded by National Institutes of Health 2020 - 2022
- Exploring Forward Models in Speech Perception and Production Using Songbirds awarded by Ruth K. Broad Biomedical Research Foundation 2020 - 2021
- Mechanisms for internally and externally guided sensorimotor learning awarded by National Institutes of Health 2016 - 2021
- Controlled neuronal firing in vivo using two photon spatially shaped optogenetics awarded by University of Colorado - Denver 2019 - 2020
- Organization and Function of Cellular Structure awarded by National Institutes of Health 1975 - 2020
- Neural Codes for Vocal Sequences awarded by National Science Foundation 2014 - 2020
- Representation of self and other in mirror neurons in the song sparrow awarded by Helen Hay Whitney Foundation 2017 - 2020
- Taking DISCO Live: Dual pathway Imaging of Striatal Circuit Output in vivo awarded by National Institutes of Health 2017 - 2019
- Motor Modulation of Auditory Processing awarded by National Institutes of Health 2014 - 2019
- Specific modulation of local and long-range visual cortical circuits by goal-directed attention awarded by National Institutes of Health 2017 - 2019
- Linking Basal Ganglia Population Dynamics, Dopamine, and Motor Performance awarded by National Institutes of Health 2016 - 2019
- Basic predoctoral training in neuroscience awarded by National Institutes of Health 1992 - 2018
- Learning to predict the sensory consequences of movement awarded by Burroughs Wellcome Fund 2017
- Using songbirds to uncover circuit pathology and recovery in Huntington's disease. awarded by Ruth K. Broad Biomedical Research Foundation 2016 - 2017
- Adaptive cortical integration of sensory and motor signals awarded by Helen Hay Whitney Foundation 2014 - 2017
- Corollary Discharge Circuits in Auditory Cortex awarded by National Institutes of Health 2014 - 2016
- Training in Fundamental &Translational Neuroscience awarded by National Institutes of Health 2005 - 2016
- Sensorimotor Integration for Learned Behaviors awarded by National Institutes of Health 1995 - 2015
- Songbirds as a model to explore communiction deficits in Huntington's disease awarded by Ruth K. Broad Biomedical Research Foundation 2014 - 2015
- Miniature Microdrive for Intracellular Recordings in Freely Behaving Mice awarded by National Institutes of Health 2012 - 2014
- Structural dynamics of vocal learning awarded by National Science Foundation 2008 - 2014
- Non-invasive Chemical Genetic Control of Neuronal Activity awarded by National Institutes of Health 2009 - 2014
- Optogenetic analysis of circuits for vocal recognition awarded by National Institutes of Health 2008 - 2011
- Dendritic Remodeling in the Olfactory Bulb awarded by National Institutes of Health 2003 - 2009
- Locus coeruleus and processing of olfactory social cues awarded by National Institutes of Health 2006 - 2008
- Convergence in Vocal Premotor Coding awarded by National Institutes of Health 2006 - 2007
- Auditory Inputs of Nucleus Interfacialis (NIf) awarded by National Institutes of Health 2004 - 2006
- Single Neuron Correlates of Learned Song awarded by National Institutes of Health 2003 - 2006
- Cellular Mechanisms of Vocal-Respiratory Integration awarded by National Institutes of Health 2001 - 2006
- Role of Avian Song Nucleus HVc in Categorical Perception awarded by National Institutes of Health 2003 - 2006
- Synaptic And Cellular Mechanisms Of Avian Song Learning awarded by National Institutes of Health 1998 - 1999
- Cellular and Synaptic Changes Underlying Learning. awarded by National Institutes of Health 1998 - 1999
- Cellular And Synaptic Changes Underlying Avain Learning awarded by National Institutes of Health 1997 - 1999
External Relationships
- I serve as a consultant on the McKnight Scholars Selection Committee; I also travel to give seminars on my lab's research.
Publications & Artistic Works
Selected Publications
- Academic Articles
  - Mooney, Richard, and Michael Brecht. “Editorial overview: Neurobiology of behavior.” Curr Opin Neurobiol 60 (February 2020): iii–v. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conb.2020.01.001.
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  - Nieder, Andreas, and Richard Mooney. “The neurobiology of innate, volitional and learned vocalizations in mammals and birds.” Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 375, no. 1789 (January 6, 2020): 20190054. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2019.0054.
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  - Kearney, Matthew Gene, Timothy L. Warren, Erin Hisey, Jiaxuan Qi, and Richard Mooney. “Discrete Evaluative and Premotor Circuits Enable Vocal Learning in Songbirds.” Neuron 104, no. 3 (November 6, 2019): 559-575.e6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2019.07.025.
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  - Tschida, Katherine, Valerie Michael, Jun Takatoh, Bao-Xia Han, Shengli Zhao, Katsuyasu Sakurai, Richard Mooney, and Fan Wang. “A Specialized Neural Circuit Gates Social Vocalizations in the Mouse.” Neuron 103, no. 3 (August 7, 2019): 459-472.e4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2019.05.025.
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  - Tanaka, Masashi, Fangmiao Sun, Yulong Li, and Richard Mooney. “A mesocortical dopamine circuit enables the cultural transmission of vocal behaviour.” Nature 563, no. 7729 (November 2018): 117–20. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-018-0636-7.
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  - Schneider, David M., Janani Sundararajan, and Richard Mooney. “A cortical filter that learns to suppress the acoustic consequences of movement.” Nature 561, no. 7723 (September 2018): 391–95. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-018-0520-5.
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  - Schneider, David M., and Richard Mooney. “How Movement Modulates Hearing.” Annu Rev Neurosci 41 (July 8, 2018): 553–72. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-neuro-072116-031215.
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  - Lu, Jinghao, Chunyuan Li, Jonnathan Singh-Alvarado, Zhe Charles Zhou, Flavio Fröhlich, Richard Mooney, and Fan Wang. “MIN1PIPE: A Miniscope 1-Photon-Based Calcium Imaging Signal Extraction Pipeline.” Cell Rep 23, no. 12 (June 19, 2018): 3673–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2018.05.062.
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  - Hisey, Erin, Matthew Gene Kearney, and Richard Mooney. “A common neural circuit mechanism for internally guided and externally reinforced forms of motor learning.” Nat Neurosci 21, no. 4 (April 2018): 589–97. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-018-0092-6.
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  - Mooney, Richard. “The Song Remains the Same.” Trends Neurosci 41, no. 4 (April 2018): 167–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2018.02.006.
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  - Roberts, Todd F., Erin Hisey, Masashi Tanaka, Matthew G. Kearney, Gaurav Chattree, Cindy F. Yang, Nirao M. Shah, and Richard Mooney. “Identification of a motor-to-auditory pathway important for vocal learning.” Nat Neurosci 20, no. 7 (July 2017): 978–86. https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.4563.
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  - Hamaguchi, Kosuke, Masashi Tanaka, and Richard Mooney. “A Distributed Recurrent Network Contributes to Temporally Precise Vocalizations.” Neuron 91, no. 3 (August 3, 2016): 680–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2016.06.019.
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  - Nelson, Anders, and Richard Mooney. “The Basal Forebrain and Motor Cortex Provide Convergent yet Distinct Movement-Related Inputs to the Auditory Cortex.” Neuron 90, no. 3 (May 4, 2016): 635–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2016.03.031.
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  - Kim, Hyojin, Portia A. Kunz, Richard Mooney, Benjamin D. Philpot, and Spencer L. Smith. “Maternal Loss of Ube3a Impairs Experience-Driven Dendritic Spine Maintenance in the Developing Visual Cortex.” J Neurosci 36, no. 17 (April 27, 2016): 4888–94. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4204-15.2016.
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  - Tanaka, Masashi, Jonnathan Singh Alvarado, Malavika Murugan, and Richard Mooney. “Focal expression of mutant huntingtin in the songbird basal ganglia disrupts cortico-basal ganglia networks and vocal sequences.” Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 113, no. 12 (March 22, 2016): E1720–27. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1523754113.
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  - Schneider, David M., and Richard Mooney. “Motor-related signals in the auditory system for listening and learning.” Current Opinion in Neurobiology 33 (August 2015): 78–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conb.2015.03.004.
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  - Peh, Wendy Y. X., Todd F. Roberts, and Richard Mooney. “Imaging auditory representations of song and syllables in populations of sensorimotor neurons essential to vocal communication.” The Journal of Neuroscience : The Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience 35, no. 14 (April 2015): 5589–5605. https://doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.2308-14.2015.
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  - Tseng, Wei Chou, Paul M. Jenkins, Masashi Tanaka, Richard Mooney, and Vann Bennett. “Giant ankyrin-G stabilizes somatodendritic GABAergic synapses through opposing endocytosis of GABAA receptors.” Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 112, no. 4 (January 27, 2015): 1214–19. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1417989112.
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  - Schneider, David M., Anders Nelson, and Richard Mooney. “A synaptic and circuit basis for corollary discharge in the auditory cortex.” Nature 513, no. 7517 (September 11, 2014): 189–94. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature13724.
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  - Hamaguchi, Kosuke, Katherine A. Tschida, Inho Yoon, Bruce R. Donald, and Richard Mooney. “Auditory synapses to song premotor neurons are gated off during vocalization in zebra finches.” Elife 3 (February 18, 2014): e01833. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.01833.
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  - Mooney, Richard. “Auditory-vocal mirroring in songbirds.” Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 369, no. 1644 (2014): 20130179. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2013.0179.
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  - Murugan, M., S. Harward, C. Scharff, and R. Mooney. “Diminished FoxP2 levels affect dopaminergic modulation of corticostriatal signaling important to song variability.” Neuron 80, no. 6 (December 18, 2013): 1464–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2013.09.021.
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  - Nelson, Anders, David M. Schneider, Jun Takatoh, Katsuyasu Sakurai, Fan Wang, and Richard Mooney. “A circuit for motor cortical modulation of auditory cortical activity.” J Neurosci 33, no. 36 (September 4, 2013): 14342–53. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2275-13.2013.
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  - Roberts, Todd F., and Richard Mooney. “Motor circuits help encode auditory memories of vocal models used to guide vocal learning.” Hear Res 303 (September 2013): 48–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heares.2013.01.009.
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  - Takatoh, Jun, Anders Nelson, Xiang Zhou, M McLean Bolton, Michael D. Ehlers, Benjamin R. Arenkiel, Richard Mooney, and Fan Wang. “New modules are added to vibrissal premotor circuitry with the emergence of exploratory whisking.” Neuron 77, no. 2 (January 23, 2013): 346–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2012.11.010.
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  - Yoon, Inho, Kosuke Hamaguchi, Ivan V. Borzenets, Gleb Finkelstein, Richard Mooney, and Bruce R. Donald. “Intracellular Neural Recording with Pure Carbon Nanotube Probes.” Plos One 8, no. 6 (2013): e65715. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0065715.
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  - Roberts, Todd F., Sharon M. H. Gobes, Malavika Murugan, Bence P. Ölveczky, and Richard Mooney. “Motor circuits are required to encode a sensory model for imitative learning.” Nat Neurosci 15, no. 10 (October 2012): 1454–59. https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.3206.
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  - Hamaguchi, Kosuke, and Richard Mooney. “Recurrent interactions between the input and output of a songbird cortico-basal ganglia pathway are implicated in vocal sequence variability.” J Neurosci 32, no. 34 (August 22, 2012): 11671–87. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1666-12.2012.
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  - Prather, Jf, S. Peters, R. Mooney, and S. Nowicki. “Sensory Constraints on Birdsong Syntax: Neural Responses to Swamp Sparrow Songs with Accelerated Trill Rates.” Anim Behav 83, no. 6 (June 2012): 1411–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2012.03.012.
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  - Borzenets, I. V., I. Yoon, M. M. Prior, B. R. Donald, R. D. Mooney, and G. Finkelstein. “Ultra-sharp metal and nanotube-based probes for applications in scanning microscopy and neural recording.” J Appl Phys 111, no. 7 (April 1, 2012): 74703–36. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3702802.
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  - Tschida, Katherine, and Richard Mooney. “The role of auditory feedback in vocal learning and maintenance.” Curr Opin Neurobiol 22, no. 2 (April 2012): 320–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conb.2011.11.006.
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  - Tschida, Katherine A., and Richard Mooney. “Deafening drives cell-type-specific changes to dendritic spines in a sensorimotor nucleus important to learned vocalizations.” Neuron 73, no. 5 (March 8, 2012): 1028–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2011.12.038.
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  - Borzenets, I. V., I. Yoon, M. W. Prior, B. R. Donald, R. D. Mooney, and G. Finkelstein. “Erratum: Ultra-sharp metal and nanotube-based probes for applications in scanning microscopy and neural recording (Journal of Applied Physics (2012) 111 (074703)).” Journal of Applied Physics 112, no. 2 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4739526.
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  - Prather, Jonathan F., Susan Peters, Stephen Nowicki, and Richard Mooney. “Persistent representation of juvenile experience in the adult songbird brain.” J Neurosci 30, no. 31 (August 4, 2010): 10586–98. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.6042-09.2010.
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  - Ben-Shaul, Y., L. C. Katz, R. Mooney, and C. Dulac. “In vivo vomeronasal stimulation reveals sensory encoding of conspecific and allospecific cues by the mouse accessory olfactory bulb.” Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 107, no. 11 (March 16, 2010): 5172–77. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0915147107.
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  - Roberts, Todd F., Katherine A. Tschida, Marguerita E. Klein, and Richard Mooney. “Rapid spine stabilization and synaptic enhancement at the onset of behavioural learning.” Nature 463, no. 7283 (February 18, 2010): 948–52. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature08759.
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  - Lei, Huimeng, and Richard Mooney. “Manipulation of a central auditory representation shapes learned vocal output.” Neuron 65, no. 1 (January 14, 2010): 122–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2009.12.008.
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  - Mooney, Richard. “Neurobiology of song learning.” Current Opinion in Neurobiology 19, no. 6 (December 2009): 654–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conb.2009.10.004.
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  - Mooney, Richard. “Neural mechanisms for learned birdsong.” Learn Mem 16, no. 11 (November 2009): 655–69. https://doi.org/10.1101/lm.1065209.
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  - Roy, Arani, and Richard Mooney. “Song decrystallization in adult zebra finches does not require the song nucleus NIf.” J Neurophysiol 102, no. 2 (August 2009): 979–91. https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00293.2009.
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  - Wild, J. M., M. F. Kubke, and R. Mooney. “Avian nucleus retroambigualis: cell types and projections to other respiratory-vocal nuclei in the brain of the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata).” J Comp Neurol 512, no. 6 (February 20, 2009): 768–83. https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.21932.
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  - Prather, Jonathan F., Stephen Nowicki, Rindy C. Anderson, Susan Peters, and Richard Mooney. “Neural correlates of categorical perception in learned vocal communication.” Nat Neurosci 12, no. 2 (February 2009): 221–28. https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.2246.
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  - Mooney, R. “Birdsong: The Neurobiology of Avian Vocal Learning,” January 1, 2009, 247–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-008045046-9.01942-2.
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  - Shea, Stephen D., Lawrence C. Katz, and Richard Mooney. “Noradrenergic induction of odor-specific neural habituation and olfactory memories.” J Neurosci 28, no. 42 (October 15, 2008): 10711–19. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3853-08.2008.
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  - Roberts, Todd F., Marguerita E. Klein, M Fabiana Kubke, J Martin Wild, and Richard Mooney. “Telencephalic neurons monosynaptically link brainstem and forebrain premotor networks necessary for song.” J Neurosci 28, no. 13 (March 26, 2008): 3479–89. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0177-08.2008.
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  - Bauer, Eric E., Melissa J. Coleman, Todd F. Roberts, Arani Roy, Jonathan F. Prather, and Richard Mooney. “A synaptic basis for auditory-vocal integration in the songbird.” J Neurosci 28, no. 6 (February 6, 2008): 1509–22. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3838-07.2008.
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  - Prather, J. F., S. Peters, S. Nowicki, and R. Mooney. “Precise auditory-vocal mirroring in neurons for learned vocal communication.” Nature 451, no. 7176 (January 17, 2008): 305–10. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature06492.
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  - Coleman, Melissa J., Arani Roy, J Martin Wild, and Richard Mooney. “Thalamic gating of auditory responses in telencephalic song control nuclei.” J Neurosci 27, no. 37 (September 12, 2007): 10024–36. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2215-07.2007.
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  - Roy, Arani, and Richard Mooney. “Auditory plasticity in a basal ganglia-forebrain pathway during decrystallization of adult birdsong.” J Neurosci 27, no. 24 (June 13, 2007): 6374–87. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0894-07.2007.
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  - Roberts, Todd F., J Martin Wild, M Fabiana Kubke, and Richard Mooney. “Homogeneity of intrinsic properties of sexually dimorphic vocal motoneurons in male and female zebra finches.” J Comp Neurol 502, no. 1 (May 1, 2007): 157–69. https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.21310.
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  - Lei, Huimeng, Richard Mooney, and Lawrence C. Katz. “Synaptic integration of olfactory information in mouse anterior olfactory nucleus.” J Neurosci 26, no. 46 (November 15, 2006): 12023–32. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2598-06.2006.
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  - Dan, Y., and R. D. Mooney. “Sensory systems.” Current Opinion in Neurobiology 16, no. 4 (August 1, 2006): 359–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conb.2006.07.002.
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  - Rosen, Merri J., and Richard Mooney. “Synaptic interactions underlying song-selectivity in the avian nucleus HVC revealed by dual intracellular recordings.” Journal of Neurophysiology 95, no. 2 (February 2006): 1158–75. https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00100.2005.
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  - Kubke, M. F., Y. Yazaki-Sugiyama, R. Mooney, and J. M. Wild. “Physiology of neuronal subtypes in the respiratory-vocal integration nucleus retroamigualis of the male zebra finch.” J Neurophysiol 94, no. 4 (October 2005): 2379–90. https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00257.2005.
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  - Kittelberger, J Matthew, and Richard Mooney. “Acute injections of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in a vocal premotor nucleus reversibly disrupt adult birdsong stability and trigger syllable deletion.” J Neurobiol 62, no. 4 (March 2005): 406–24. https://doi.org/10.1002/neu.20109.
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  - Mooney, Richard, and Jonathan F. Prather. “The HVC microcircuit: the synaptic basis for interactions between song motor and vocal plasticity pathways.” The Journal of Neuroscience : The Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience 25, no. 8 (February 2005): 1952–64. https://doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.3726-04.2005.
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  - Wild, J Martin, Matthew N. Williams, Graham J. Howie, and Richard Mooney. “Calcium-binding proteins define interneurons in HVC of the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata).” The Journal of Comparative Neurology 483, no. 1 (February 2005): 76–90. https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.20403.
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  - Yazaki-Sugiyama, Y., and R. Mooney. “Sequential learning from multiple tutors and serial retuning of auditory neurons in a brain area important to birdsong learning.” Journal of Neurophysiology 92, no. 5 (November 1, 2004): 2771–88. https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00467.2004.
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  - Coleman, Melissa J., and R. Mooney. “Synaptic transformations underlying highly selective auditory representations of learned birdsong.” J Neurosci 24, no. 33 (August 18, 2004): 7251–65. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0947-04.2004.
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  - Prather, Jonathan F., and Richard Mooney. “Neural correlates of learned song in the avian forebrain: simultaneous representation of self and others.” Curr Opin Neurobiol 14, no. 4 (August 2004): 496–502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conb.2004.06.004.
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  - Mooney, Richard. “Synaptic mechanisms for auditory-vocal integration and the correction of vocal errors.” Ann N Y Acad Sci 1016 (June 2004): 476–94. https://doi.org/10.1196/annals.1298.011.
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  - Rosen, Merri J., and Richard Mooney. “Inhibitory and excitatory mechanisms underlying auditory responses to learned vocalizations in the songbird nucleus HVC.” Neuron 39, no. 1 (July 3, 2003): 177–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0896-6273(03)00357-x.
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  - Sturdy, Christopher B., J Martin Wild, and Richard Mooney. “Respiratory and telencephalic modulation of vocal motor neurons in the zebra finch.” J Neurosci 23, no. 3 (February 1, 2003): 1072–86.
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  - Mooney, R., M. J. Rosen, and C. B. Sturdy. “A bird's eye view: top down intracellular analyses of auditory selectivity for learned vocalizations.” Journal of Comparative Physiology. A, Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology 188, no. 11–12 (December 2002): 879–95. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-002-0353-3.
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  - Mooney, R., W. Hoese, and S. Nowicki. “Auditory representation of the vocal repertoire in a songbird with multiple song types.” Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 98, no. 22 (October 23, 2001): 12778–83. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.221453298.
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  - Livingston, F. S., and R. Mooney. “Androgens and isolation from adult tutors differentially affect the development of songbird neurons critical to vocal plasticity.” J Neurophysiol 85, no. 1 (January 2001): 34–42. https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.2001.85.1.34.
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  - Sturdy, C. B., and R. Mooney. “Bird communication: two voices are better than one.” Curr Biol 10, no. 17 (September 7, 2000): R634–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0960-9822(00)00661-8.
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  - Mooney, R. “Erratum: Different subthreshold mechanisms underlie song selectivity in identified HVc neurons of the zebra finch (Journals of Neuroscience (July 15, 2000) (5437-5448)).” Journal of Neuroscience 20, no. 15 (August 1, 2000).
  - Rosen, M. J., and R. Mooney. “Erratum: Intrinsic and extrinsic contributions to auditory selectivity in a song nucleus critical for vocal plasticity (Journals of Neuroscience (July 15, 2000) (5420-5436)).” Journal of Neuroscience 20, no. 15 (August 1, 2000).
  - Mooney, R. “Different subthreshold mechanisms underlie song selectivity in identified HVc neurons of the zebra finch.” J Neurosci 20, no. 14 (July 15, 2000): 5420–36.
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  - Rosen, M. J., and R. Mooney. “Intrinsic and extrinsic contributions to auditory selectivity in a song nucleus critical for vocal plasticity.” J Neurosci 20, no. 14 (July 15, 2000): 5437–48.
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  - Livingston, F. S., S. A. White, and R. Mooney. “Slow NMDA-EPSCs at synapses critical for song development are not required for song learning in zebra finches.” Nat Neurosci 3, no. 5 (May 2000): 482–88. https://doi.org/10.1038/74857.
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  - Kittelberger, J. M., and R. Mooney. “Lesions of an avian forebrain nucleus that disrupt song development alter synaptic connectivity and transmission in the vocal premotor pathway.” J Neurosci 19, no. 21 (November 1, 1999): 9385–98.
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  - White, S. A., F. S. Livingston, and R. Mooney. “Androgens modulate NMDA receptor-mediated EPSCs in the zebra finch song system.” J Neurophysiol 82, no. 5 (November 1999): 2221–34. https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.1999.82.5.2221.
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  - White, S. A., and R. Mooney. “Can an old bird change his tune?” Curr Biol 9, no. 18 (September 23, 1999): R688–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0960-9822(99)80440-0.
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  - Spiro, J. E., M. B. Dalva, and R. Mooney. “Long-range inhibition within the zebra finch song nucleus RA can coordinate the firing of multiple projection neurons.” J Neurophysiol 81, no. 6 (June 1999): 3007–20. https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.1999.81.6.3007.
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  - Mooney, R. “Sensitive periods and circuits for learned birdsong.” Curr Opin Neurobiol 9, no. 1 (February 1999): 121–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0959-4388(99)80015-4.
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  - Livingston, F. S., and R. Mooney. “Development of intrinsic and synaptic properties in a forebrain nucleus essential to avian song learning.” J Neurosci 17, no. 23 (December 1, 1997): 8997–9009.
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  - Mooney, R., and J. E. Spiro. “Bird song: of tone and tempo in the telencephalon.” Curr Biol 7, no. 5 (May 1, 1997): R289–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0960-9822(06)00139-4.
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  - Mooney, R., A. A. Penn, R. Gallego, and C. J. Shatz. “Thalamic relay of spontaneous retinal activity prior to vision.” Neuron 17, no. 5 (November 1996): 863–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0896-6273(00)80218-4.
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  - Mooney, R. “Behavioral learning. The illuminated songbird.” Curr Biol 5, no. 6 (June 1, 1995): 609–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0960-9822(95)00122-9.
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  - Mooney, R. “The illuminated songbird.” Current Biology 5, no. 6 (1995): 609–11.
  - Mooney, R., and M. Rao. “Waiting periods versus early innervation: the development of axonal connections in the zebra finch song system.” J Neurosci 14, no. 11 Pt 1 (November 1994): 6532–43.
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  - Mooney, R., D. V. Madison, and C. J. Shatz. “Enhancement of transmission at the developing retinogeniculate synapse.” Neuron 10, no. 5 (May 1993): 815–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/0896-6273(93)90198-z.
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  - Mooney, R. “Synaptic basis for developmental plasticity in a birdsong nucleus.” J Neurosci 12, no. 7 (July 1992): 2464–77.
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  - Mooney, R., and M. Konishi. “Two distinct inputs to an avian song nucleus activate different glutamate receptor subtypes on individual neurons.” Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 88, no. 10 (May 15, 1991): 4075–79. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.88.10.4075.
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  - Mooney, R., and A. J. Doupe. “Neurobiology of bird song: circuits, synapses, and development.” Discussions in Neuroscience 7, no. 2–3 (February 1, 1991): 100–111.
  - Mooney, R. “Pilot-loaded regulators. What you need to know.” Gas Industries 34, no. 1 (November 1, 1989): 31–33.
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