scholarly journals Vocal communication is multi-sensorimotor coordination within and between individuals

2014 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 572-573
Author(s):  
Daniel Y. Takahashi ◽  
Asif A. Ghazanfar
Keyword(s):  
Cooperative Communication ◽  
Vocal Communication ◽  
Vocal Learning ◽  
Audiovisual Speech ◽  
Human Communication ◽  
Sensorimotor Coordination

AbstractSpeech is an exquisitely coordinated interaction among effectors both within and between individuals. No account of human communication evolution that ignores its foundational multisensory characteristics and cooperative nature will be satisfactory. Here, we describe two additional capacities – rhythmic audiovisual speech and cooperative communication – and suggest that they may utilize the very same or similar circuits as those proposed for vocal learning.

scholarly journals Nonhuman and Nonhuman-Human Communication: Some Issues and Questions

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene M. Pepperberg
Keyword(s):  
Communication Systems ◽  
Vocal Communication ◽  
Vocal Learning ◽  
Simple Object ◽  
Emotional States ◽  
Human Language ◽  
Human Communication ◽  
Psittacus Erithacus ◽  
Simple Matter ◽  
Number Of Species

Deciphering nonhuman communication – particularly nonhuman vocal communication – has been a longstanding human quest. We are, for example, fascinated by the songs of birds and whales, the grunts of apes, the barks of dogs, and the croaks of frogs; we wonder about their potential meaning and their relationship to human language. Do these utterances express little more than emotional states, or do they convey actual bits and bytes of concrete information? Humans’ numerous attempts to decipher nonhuman systems have, however, progressed slowly. We still wonder why only a small number of species are capable of vocal learning, a trait that, because it allows for innovation and adaptation, would seem to be a prerequisite for most language-like abilities. Humans have also attempted to teach nonhumans elements of our system, using both vocal and nonvocal systems. The rationale for such training is that the extent of success in instilling symbolic reference provides some evidence for, at the very least, the cognitive underpinnings of parallels between human and nonhuman communication systems. However, separating acquisition of reference from simple object-label association is not a simple matter, as reference begins with such associations, and the point at which true reference emerges is not always obvious. I begin by discussing these points and questions, predominantly from the viewpoint of someone studying avian abilities. I end by examining the question posed by Premack: do nonhumans that have achieved some level of symbolic reference then process information differently from those that have not? I suggest the answer is likely “yes,” giving examples from my research on Grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus).

The frame/content theory of evolution of speech production

1998 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 499-511 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter F. MacNeilage
Keyword(s):  
Speech Production ◽  
Vocal Communication ◽  
Vocal Learning ◽  
General Purpose ◽  
External Input ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Broca’S Area ◽  
Broca's Area ◽  
Theory Of Evolution ◽  
Species Specific

The species-specific organizational property of speech is a continual mouth open-close alternation, the two phases of which are subject to continual articulatory modulation. The cycle constitutes the syllable, and the open and closed phases are segments – vowels and consonants, respectively. The fact that segmental serial ordering errors in normal adults obey syllable structure constraints suggests that syllabic “frames” and segmental “content” elements are separately controlled in the speech production process. The frames may derive from cycles of mandibular oscillation present in humans from babbling onset, which are responsible for the open-close alternation. These communication- related frames perhaps first evolved when the ingestion-related cyclicities of mandibular oscillation (associated with mastication [chewing] sucking and licking) took on communicative significance as lipsmacks, tonguesmacks, and teeth chatters – displays that are prominent in many nonhuman primates. The new role of Broca's area and its surround in human vocal communication may have derived from its evolutionary history as the main cortical center for the control of ingestive processes. The frame and content components of speech may have subsequently evolved separate realizations within two general purpose primate motor control systems: (1) a motivation-related medial “intrinsic” system, including anterior cingulate cortex and the supplementary motor area, for self-generated behavior, formerly responsible for ancestral vocalization control and now also responsible for frames, and (2) a lateral “extrinsic” system, including Broca's area and surround, and Wernicke's area, specialized for response to external input (and therefore the emergent vocal learning capacity) and more responsible for content.

scholarly journals miR-9 regulates basal ganglia-dependent developmental vocal learning and adult vocal performance in songbirds

eLife ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhimin Shi ◽  
Zoe Piccus ◽  
Xiaofang Zhang ◽  
Huidi Yang ◽  
Hannah Jarrell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Basal Ganglia ◽  
Vocal Communication ◽  
Vocal Learning ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Language Impairments ◽  
Vocal Performance ◽  
Behavioral Deficits ◽  
Expression Of Genes ◽  
Dopamine Signaling ◽  
Area X

miR-9 is an evolutionarily conserved miRNA that is abundantly expressed in Area X, a basal ganglia nucleus required for vocal learning in songbirds. Here, we report that overexpression of miR-9 in Area X of juvenile zebra finches impairs developmental vocal learning, resulting in a song with syllable omission, reduced similarity to the tutor song, and altered acoustic features. miR-9 overexpression in juveniles also leads to more variable song performance in adulthood, and abolishes social context-dependent modulation of song variability. We further show that these behavioral deficits are accompanied by downregulation of FoxP1 and FoxP2, genes that are known to be associated with language impairments, as well as by disruption of dopamine signaling and widespread changes in the expression of genes that are important in circuit development and functions. These findings demonstrate a vital role for miR-9 in basal ganglia function and vocal communication, suggesting that dysregulation of miR-9 in humans may contribute to language impairments and related neurodevelopmental disorders.

scholarly journals Identification and analysis of vocal communication pathways in birds through inducible gene expression

2004 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 243-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudio V. Mello
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Auditory Processing ◽  
Vocal Communication ◽  
Vocal Learning ◽  
Early Gene ◽  
Brain Areas ◽  
Control Brain ◽  
Activity Dependent ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Inducible Gene

The immediate-early gene zenk is an activity-dependent gene highly induced in auditory processing or vocal motor control brain areas when birds engage in hearing or producing song, respectively. Studies of the expression of zenk in songbirds and other avian groups will be reviewed here briefly, with a focus on how this analysis has generated new insights on the brain pathways and mechanisms involved in perceptual and motor aspects of vocal communication and vocal learning.

scholarly journals Analysis of the interaction between elderly people and a simulated virtual coach

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 6125-6140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raquel Justo ◽  
Leila Ben Letaifa ◽  
Cristina Palmero ◽  
Eduardo Gonzalez-Fraile ◽  
Anna Torp Johansen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Communication ◽  
User Behavior ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Physical Aspect ◽  
System Behavior ◽  
Human Communication ◽  
Wizard Of Oz ◽  
System A ◽  
Language Analysis ◽  
Simulated System

AbstractThe EMPATHIC project develops and validates new interaction paradigms for personalized virtual coaches (VC) to promote healthy and independent aging. To this end, the work presented in this paper is aimed to analyze the interaction between the EMPATHIC-VC and the users. One of the goals of the project is to ensure an end-user driven design, involving senior users from the beginning and during each phase of the project. Thus, the paper focuses on some sessions where the seniors carried out interactions with a Wizard of Oz driven, simulated system. A coaching strategy based on the GROW model was used throughout these sessions so as to guide interactions and engage the elderly with the goals of the project. In this interaction framework, both the human and the system behavior were analyzed. The way the wizard implements the GROW coaching strategy is a key aspect of the system behavior during the interaction. The language used by the virtual agent as well as his or her physical aspect are also important cues that were analyzed. Regarding the user behavior, the vocal communication provides information about the speaker’s emotional status, that is closely related to human behavior and which can be extracted from the speech and language analysis. In the same way, the analysis of the facial expression, gazes and gestures can provide information on the non verbal human communication even when the user is not talking. In addition, in order to engage senior users, their preferences and likes had to be considered. To this end, the effect of the VC on the users was gathered by means of direct questionnaires. These analyses have shown a positive and calm behavior of users when interacting with the simulated virtual coach as well as some difficulties of the system to develop the proposed coaching strategy.

scholarly journals A system for controlling vocal communication networks

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Rychen ◽  
D. I. Rodrigues ◽  
T. Tomka ◽  
L. Rüttimann ◽  
H. Yamahachi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Communication Networks ◽  
Vocal Communication ◽  
Vocal Learning ◽  
Small Animal ◽  
Real Time Control ◽  
Hierarchical Networks ◽  
Time Control ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Field Programmable ◽  
Animal Vocalizations

AbstractAnimal vocalizations serve a wide range of functions including territorial defense, courtship, social cohesion, begging, and vocal learning. Whereas many insights have been gained from observational studies and experiments using auditory stimulation, there is currently no technology available for the selective control of vocal communication in small animal groups. We developed a system for real-time control of vocal interactions among separately housed animals. The system is implemented on a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) and it allows imposing arbitrary communication networks among up to four animals. To minimize undesired transitive sound leakage, we adopted echo attenuation and sound squelching algorithms. In groups of three zebra finches, we restrict vocal communication in circular and in hierarchical networks and thereby mimic complex eavesdropping and middleman situations.

scholarly journals Universal principles underlying segmental structures in parrot song and human speech

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan C. Mann ◽  
W. Tecumseh Fitch ◽  
Hsiao-Wei Tu ◽  
Marisa Hoeschele
Keyword(s):  
Communication Systems ◽  
Empirical Investigation ◽  
Vocal Learning ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Human Language ◽  
Human Communication ◽  
Universal Principles ◽  
Linguistic Patterns ◽  
Parrot Species ◽  
Acoustic Output

AbstractDespite the diversity of human languages, certain linguistic patterns are remarkably consistent across human populations. While syntactic universals receive more attention, there is stronger evidence for universal patterns in the inventory and organization of segments: units that are separated by rapid acoustic transitions which are used to build syllables, words, and phrases. Crucially, if an alien researcher investigated spoken human language how we analyze non-human communication systems, many of the phonological regularities would be overlooked, as the majority of analyses in non-humans treat breath groups, or “syllables” (units divided by silent inhalations), as the smallest unit. Here, we introduce a novel segment-based analysis that reveals patterns in the acoustic output of budgerigars, a vocal learning parrot species, that match universal phonological patterns well-documented in humans. We show that song in four independent budgerigar populations is comprised of consonant- and vowel-like segments. Furthermore, the organization of segments within syllables is not random. As in spoken human language, segments at the start of a vocalization are more likely to be consonant-like and segments at the end are more likely to be longer, quieter, and lower in fundamental frequency. These results provide a new foundation for empirical investigation of language-like abilities in other species.

scholarly journals Development and application of a robotic zebra finch (RoboFinch) to study multimodal cues in vocal communication

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph Simon ◽  
Judith Varkevisser ◽  
Ezequiel Mendoza ◽  
Klaus Hochradel ◽  
Constance Scharff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zebra Finch ◽  
Stimulus Control ◽  
Vocal Communication ◽  
Vocal Learning ◽  
Human Perception ◽  
Temporal Alignment ◽  
Stimulus Representation ◽  
Multimodal Signals ◽  
And Control ◽  
Video Presentations

Understanding animal behaviour through psychophysical experimentation is often limited by insufficiently realistic stimulus representation. Important physical dimensions of signals and cues, especially those that are outside the spectrum of human perception, can be difficult to standardize and control separately with currently available recording and displaying techniques (e.g. video displays). Accurate stimulus control is in particular important when studying multimodal signals, as spatial and temporal alignment between stimuli is often crucial. Especially for audiovisual presentations, some of these limitations can be circumvented by the employment of animal robots that are superior to video presentations in all situations requiring realistic 3D presentations to animals. Here we report the development of a robotic zebra finch, called RoboFinch, and how it can be used to study vocal learning in a songbird, the zebra finch.

scholarly journals Highly efficient genome modification of cultured primordial germ cells with lentiviral vectors to generate transgenic songbirds

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivana Gessara ◽  
Falk Dittrich ◽  
Moritz Hertel ◽  
Staffan Hildebrand ◽  
Alexander Pfeifer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zebra Finch ◽  
Germ Cells ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Vocal Communication ◽  
Primordial Germ Cells ◽  
Vocal Learning ◽  
Lentiviral Vectors ◽  
Blood Stream ◽  
Stem Cell Markers ◽  
Highly Efficient

SUMARYThe ability to genetically manipulate organisms has led to significant insights in functional genomics in many species. In birds, manipulation of the genome is hindered by the inaccessibility of the one-cell embryo. During embryonic development, avian primordial germ cells (PGCs) migrate through the blood stream and reach the gonadal anlage; where they develop into mature germ cells. Here, we explored the use of PGCs to produce transgenic offspring in the zebra finch, which is a major animal model for sexual brain differentiation, vocal learning and vocal communication. Zebra finch PGCs (zfPGCs) obtained from embryonic blood significantly proliferated when cultured in an optimized culture medium and conserved the expression of germ and stem cell markers. Transduction of cultured zfPGCs with lentiviral vectors was highly efficient leading to strong expression of the enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP). Transduced zfPGCs were injected into the host embryo and transgenic songbirds were successfully generated.

scholarly journals Network analysis reveals underlying syntactic features in a vocally learnt mammalian display, humpback whale song

2019 ◽  
Vol 286 (1917) ◽  
pp. 20192014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny A. Allen ◽  
Ellen C. Garland ◽  
Rebecca A. Dunlop ◽  
Michael J. Noad
Keyword(s):  
Network Structure ◽  
Communication Systems ◽  
Vocal Communication ◽  
Vocal Learning ◽  
Small World ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Small World Network ◽  
Network Modelling ◽  
Cultural Conformity

Vocal communication systems have a set of rules that govern the arrangement of acoustic signals, broadly defined as ‘syntax’. However, there is a limited understanding of potentially shared or analogous rules across vocal displays in different taxa. Recent work on songbirds has investigated syntax using network-based modelling. This technique quantifies features such as connectivity (adjacent signals in a sequence) and recurring patterns. Here, we apply network-based modelling to the complex, hierarchically structured songs of humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) from east Australia. Given the song's annual evolving pattern and the cultural conformity of males within a population, network modelling captured the patterns of multiple song types over 13 consecutive years. Song arrangements in each year displayed clear ‘small-world’ network structure, characterized by clusters of highly connected sounds. Transitions between these connected sounds further suggested a combination of both structural stability and variability. Small-world network structure within humpback songs may facilitate the characteristic and persistent vocal learning observed. Similar small-world structures and transition patterns are found in several birdsong displays, indicating common syntactic patterns among vocal learning in multiple taxa. Understanding the syntactic rules governing vocal displays in multiple, independently evolving lineages may indicate what rules or structural features are important to the evolution of complex communication, including human language.

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