I- Project on the zebra finch’s
acoustic communication network.
In collaboration with Nicolas Mathevon, I’m trying to answer
to three important questions of social networking:
(1) Knowing who is who: what are the acoustic processes of individual
recognition between network’s members?
(2) When one’s behavior is influenced by his network:
does the social context influence zebra finches’ communication
behaviors?
(3) Experiencing changes in the network’s configuration:
do communication behaviors depend on network’s structure?
This project has been funded by an ANR grant, and has involved
collaborations with:
-Catherine Del Negro, CNPS-Université Paris Sud: electrophysiology,
-Stéphane Mottin & Thomas Olivier, LHC CNRS UMR5516:
Optical tomography,
-Annemie Van der Linden, Bioimaging Lab, University of Antwerp:
fMRI.
This project has involved 2 PhD students under my supervision
:
Julie Elie (2007-2010 ; now postdoc researcher at UC Berkeley,
USA)
Emilie Perez (2009-2014, co-tutelle with Macquarie University,
Sydney, Australia).
As well as several postdoc researchers (Alexandra Hernandez,
Florence Levréro, Séverine Ligout, Hervé
Mulard).
II- Project on the acoustic partnership between zebra finch
mates.
The monogamous pair bond in birds represents
a real partnership: male and female work as a team during chicks
rearing and synchronize numerous activities. The coordination
between mates is reached by constant communication between the
partners. In this framework, my research objective is to understand
the acoustic communication processes linked to the strong social
partnership of the monogamous pair-bond in the zebra finch (Taeniopygia
guttata).
This project is currently funded by the University
of Saint-Etienne (International projects funds), the CNRS and
the Fyssen foundation (postdoctoral fellowship to Mylène
Mariette).
Teaching
I'm currently in charge of the
University courses that prepare to the French national exam
to become High-school teacher => Classe de Préparation
au Capes Sciences de la Vie et de la Terre UJM - IUFM de Lyon.
I'm also teaching ethology and neuroethology to Master students,
as well as physiology at undergrad level (licence).
Selected Publications
Elie JE, Soula HA, Mathevon N, Vignal C, in press. Dynamics
of communal vocalizations in a social songbird, the zebra finch.
Journal of the Acoustical Society of America.
Vignal C, Mathevon N, in press. Effect of acoustic
cue modifications on evoked vocal response to calls in zebra
finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Journal of Comparative Psychology.
Elie JE, Mariette MM, Soula HA, Griffith SC,
Mathevon N, Vignal C, 2010. Vocal communication at the nest
between mates in wild zebra finches: a private vocal duet? Animal
Behaviour 80:597-605.
Mulard H, Vignal C, Pelletier L, Blanc A, Mathevon
N, 2010. From preferential response to parental calls to sex-specific
response to conspecific calls in juvenile zebra finches. Animal
Behaviour. 80:189-195.
Vignal C, Boumans T, Montcel B, Ramstein S,
Verhoye M, Van Audekerke J, Mathevon N, Van der Linden A, Mottin
S, 2008. Measuring brain hemodynamic changes in a songbird:
responses to hypercapnia measured with functional MRI and near-infrared
spectroscopy. Physics in Medicine and Biology, 53:2457-2470.
Vignal C, Andru J, Mathevon N, 2005. Social
context modulates behavioural and brain immediate early gene
responses to sound in male songbird. European Journal of Neuroscience,
22:949-955.
Vignal C, Mathevon N, Mottin S, 2004. Audience
drives male songbird response to partner’s voice. Nature,
430(6998):448-51.
