The role of frontal lobe networks in cognitive control of monkey vocalizations

语音是定义我们作为人类的关键区别特征之一，允许我们进行复杂的音频-语音交流。学习的声音模式，如人类的语言，主要是由皮质区产生的，与布罗卡区在腹外侧额叶作为关键结构的自愿语音生产。相比之下，基因预先编程的发声，包括非人类灵长类动物和大多数其他哺乳动物的发声，是由脑干中复杂的神经元网络产生的。最近，我们建立了恒河猴作为一个非人灵长类动物模型来研究发声行为的意志控制的行为和神经基础。我们的神经生理学数据表明，猴子同源的布罗卡区的声乐规划和呼叫启动，一个假定的系统发育前体在非人灵长类动物的语言人类的语音控制的一个重要作用。该项目的目的是，首先，进一步研究猴子同源的人类布罗卡区在意志呼叫生产的作用，通过测试如何激活和失活的神经元组在不同时期的行为任务中的猴子同源的布罗卡区影响声乐行为。第二，在前扣带皮层和前辅助运动区的记录将阐明单个神经元如何有助于在发声行为的认知过程和运动输出的联系。

Speech is one of the key distinguishing features that defines us as human allowing us complex audio-vocal communication. Learned vocal patterns such as human speech are produced primarily by cortical areas, with Broca area in the ventro-lateral frontal lobe as key structure for voluntary speech production. In contrast, genetically pre-programmed vocalizations, which include those of non-human primates and most other mammals, are generated by a complex neuronal network in the brainstem. Recently, we established the rhesus monkey as a nonhuman primate model to study behavioral and neuronal foundations of volitional control of vocal behavior. Our neurophysiological data suggest a cardinal role of the monkey homologue of Broca area in vocal planning and call initiation, a putative phylogenetic precursor in nonhuman primates for speech control in linguistic humans. The aim of the proposed project is, first, to further investigate the role of the monkey homologue of human Broca area in volitional call production by testing how activation and inactivation of groups of neurons during different epochs of the behavioral task in the monkeys homologue of Broca area is affecting vocal behavior. Second, recordings in the anterior cingulate cortex and the pre-supplementary motor area will elucidate how single neurons contribute to the linkage of cognitive processes and motor output in vocal behavior.