Doctoral Dissertation Improvement: Neural Substrates of Primate Communication: A Comparative Study of Facial and Hypoglossal Nuclei

博士论文改进：灵长类动物交​​流的神经基质：面核和舌下核的比较研究

• 批准号: 0121286
• 负责人: Ralph Holloway
• 金额: $ 0.88万
• 依托单位: Columbia University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2002
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2002-01-15 至 2003-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0121286&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Doctoral; Dissertation; Improvement; Neural; Substrates

Primates use diverse sensory channels in their communication among social partners, ranging from the pungent "urine washing" of ring-tailed lemurs to the flamboyant "lip flip" gesture of gelada baboons to the complex rhythms of human speech. These signals are often highly nuanced and produced in a flexible, context-sensitive manner. Since the nervous system has a central role in the planning and execution of communicative behavior, one would expect significant species differences in the brain structures that subserve communication. To date, however, little is known about species differences in the brain's control of the orofacial system that is so vital to the production of facial expression and vocalization. This research project will contribute to our knowledge of the neural substrates underlying two important transformations in the evolution of primate communication: (1) the more dominant use of facial expressions among great apes and humans, and (2) the skilled use of the tongue and lips in the service of human spoken language. In a sample that includes New World monkeys, Old World monkeys, apes, and humans, brainstem regions that directly supply the muscles of facial expression and the tongue will be analyzed using techniques to reveal their chemical composition and cellular structure. The results of this study will help to clarify how neural organization determines species-specific communicative signals, including human speech, and will provide insights into the evolution of the primate brain

灵长类动物在社交伙伴之间使用不同的感官通道进行交流，从环尾狐猴辛辣的“尿液清洗”到狮尾狒狒华丽的“嘴唇翻转”手势，再到人类语言的复杂节奏。这些信号往往非常微妙，并以灵活、对上下文敏感的方式产生。由于神经系统在沟通行为的规划和执行中起着核心作用，因此可以预期，在促进沟通的大脑结构中存在显着的物种差异。然而，到目前为止，人们对大脑控制口面系统的物种差异知之甚少，口面系统对面部表情和发声的产生至关重要。这个研究项目将有助于我们了解灵长类动物交流进化中两个重要转变的神经基础：（1）在类人猿和人类中更主要地使用面部表情，以及（2）在人类口语服务中熟练使用舌头和嘴唇。在包括新世界猴子，旧世界猴子，猿和人类的样本中，直接供应面部表情和舌头肌肉的脑干区域将使用技术进行分析，以揭示其化学成分和细胞结构。这项研究的结果将有助于阐明神经组织如何决定物种特异性的交流信号，包括人类的语音，并将为灵长类动物大脑的进化提供见解