Neural mechanisms of animal vocalization and communication

动物发声和交流的神经机制

• 批准号: 41599-2007
• 负责人: Brudzynski, Stefan
• 金额: $ 2.16万
• 依托单位: Brock University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2010-01-01 至 2011-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=450803
• 关键词: Neural; mechanisms; animal; vocalization; communication

The proposal concerns rodent vocalization and the code used by animals in vocal communication. Brain mechanisms involved in the production of ultrasonic vocalizations in the rat and the communicative significance, or "meaning" of these vocalizations for other rats are studied. Two main types of calls in adult rats are studied: the long alarm calls and the short social calls. The objectives of the proposed research are (1) to provide evidence that each of the vocalization types requires activity of a different brain subsystem, which uses different chemical code. The alarm calls are based on the utilization of the brain chemical known as acetylcholine and the social calls on the chemical known as dopamine. Both of these neurochemicals are released in the brain from terminals of specific neuronal pathways. The project also aims at (2) identifying active brain cells, which produce and release these neurochemicals and are directly involved in production of vocalizations. In addition to that, (3) the proposal includes behavioural studies, which are designed to provide evidence that rats can clearly distinguish different types of their calls and can even recognize calls of individual rats within their group. Finally (4) the proposal contains plans for studies of individual development of vocalizations from infants to adults. The ultimate goal of this proposal is to extend these studies to other species, including man. This research has a potential to reveal brain mechanism of human infant cry and development of vocal expression of human emotions. It will also contribute to our knowledge of the evolutionary development of emotional coloration of speech in humans and non-verbal vocal communication in mammalian species.

该提案涉及啮齿动物的发声和动物在声音交流中使用的代码。研究了大鼠产生超声波发声的脑机制以及这些发声对其他大鼠的通信意义或“意义”。研究了成年大鼠的两种主要叫声：长的报警叫声和短的社会叫声。本研究的目的是（1）提供证据证明每种发声类型需要不同的大脑子系统的活动，这些子系统使用不同的化学代码。报警电话是基于利用大脑中的化学物质乙酰胆碱和社会呼吁的化学物质多巴胺。这两种神经化学物质都是从特定神经通路的末端释放到大脑中的。该项目还旨在（2）识别活跃的脑细胞，这些脑细胞产生和释放这些神经化学物质，并直接参与发声的产生。除此之外，（3）该提案还包括行为研究，旨在提供证据证明大鼠可以清楚地区分不同类型的叫声，甚至可以识别其群体中单个大鼠的叫声。最后（4）建议中包含了从婴儿到成人的个体发声发展研究计划。这项研究的最终目的是将这些研究扩展到包括人类在内的其他物种，揭示人类婴儿哭泣的大脑机制和人类情感的声音表达的发展。这也将有助于我们了解人类语言的情感色彩和哺乳动物物种的非语言声音交流的进化发展。