FIGURE 10-24 Avian Neuroanatomy Lateral view of the canary brain shows several left-hemisphere nuclei that control song learning. Two that are necessary both for adult singing and for learning the song are the higher vocal control center (HVC) and the nucleus robustus archistriatalis (RA). Other regions necessary for learning the song during development but not required for adult singing include the dorsal archistriatum (Ad), the lateral magnocellular nucleus of the anterior neostriatum (LMAN), area X of the avian striatum, and the medial dorsolateral nucleus of the thalamus (DLM).