the molecular level. The nidopallium is also heavily innervated by dopaminergic neurons from the direction of the brainstem. It is thought that the high concentration of dopamine (a neurotransmitter often involved with motivation, reward circuits and motor control) in this area may contribute to the ability of the NCL to execute higher order cognitive functions. Furthermore, the neural activity of the nidopallium greatly increases when birds are exposed to reward-predicting visual stimuli. This, once more, evidences the considerable presence of dopaminergic neurons in this area, as implied by their stereotypical activation in anticipation of reward-predicting stimuli. Migration is one of the many intricate behavioural processes governed by the nidopallium in birds. Studies have shown that there is significant neuronal recruitment to this region of the avian brain during migratory flight, with the objective of enhancing cognitive potency in the nidopallium. As a result, the birds benefit from improved navigational capabilities during migration, prompted by the significant changes in spatial sensory stimuli. This is a distinct example of neuroplasticity in the avian brain, and has been used to extend our understanding of the nidopallium. The experimental method is similar to that of lesion-deficit analysis, whereby scientists examine the deficiencies of patients with particular brain lesions in order to determine the function of the affected part of the brain. Alternatively, the avian migration experiment was able to analyse the role of the nidopallium because its functional capacity was enhanced, rather than diminished. See also Avian pallium Brain Prefrontal cortex References External links Avian Brain Resource Animal nervous system Bird neuroanatomy