Mechanism for Producing Complex Sounds

描述（由申请人提供）：我们提出的研究的目标是了解复杂声音产生的机制，这些声音可以在许多鸟类的歌声中找到，并揭示外周系统在这一过程中的作用。作为第一步，生理参数（肌肌电图的舌肌，气管和支气管气流数据）将被描述为全方位的声学特性的三个物种，斑胸草雀，褐头燕八哥和欧洲椋鸟的歌曲。基于这些数据，模型的声音产生在鸟类的发声器官，鸣管，将开发和实验测试，以阐明这种声学多功能性的物理过程。在这种综合方法之后，重点将放在非平凡的声学特征上，这些特征存在于所选物种的歌曲中。对这些鸟的舌肌进行肌电图记录，将揭示神经指令在多大程度上可以解释复杂声音的产生。我们将测试的假设，复杂的声音产生的两个声源之间的声学相互作用的空洞和唇振动的反馈压力的建模和实验测试相结合。这项研究是一个全面的综合方法来阐明鸟鸣产生的外围物理机制。结果将告知在何种程度上的外围系统可以引起复杂的声学行为，而没有并行的神经控制的复杂性。这项研究将提供有价值的洞察神经控制，外周相互作用和学习的鸟类发声行为之间的联系，因此，探索的问题，也是我们的理解人类的语音生产和运动控制的意义。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of our proposed research is to understand the mechanisms involved in the generation of complex sounds, which can be found in the songs of many birds, and to unveil the role of the peripheral system in this process. As an initial step, the physiological parameters (electromyograms of syringeal muscles, tracheal and bronchial airflow data) will be described for the full range of acoustic characteristics in the songs of three species, zebra finch, brown-headed cowbird and European starling. Based on these data, models of sound generation in the avian vocal organ, the syrinx, will be developed and experimentally tested in order to elucidate the physical processes underlying this acoustic versatility. Following this integrated approach, the focus will be on nontrivial acoustic features, which are present in the songs of the selected species. Electromyographic recordings of syringeal muscles in these birds will reveal the degree to which neural instructions can account for the generation of complex sounds. We will test the hypotheses that complex sounds arise from acoustic interaction between the two sound sources of the syrinx and from feedback pressure onto labial vibration by a combination of modeling and experimental tests. The proposed research is a comprehensive integrative approach to illuminate the peripheral physical mechanisms of birdsong production. The results will inform about the degree to which the peripheral system can give rise to complex acoustic behavior without parallel complexity in the neural control. This research will provide valuable insight into the link between neural control, peripheral interactions and learned vocal behavior in birds and, therefore, explore issues that are also of significance for our understanding of human speech production and motor control.