The neurothology of call recognition

描述（由申请人提供）：本申请寻求使用普通绒猴的自然对唱呼叫行为来检查灵长类动物中声音信号识别的神经机制，特别关注前额叶皮层在该过程中的作用。当一个个体识别出一种特定的长叫声，并通过产生相同类型的叫声来回应这种叫声时，就会发生对唱叫声。由于对唱要求个体识别最初的发声，这种行为代表了一种自然的识别系统，可以用神经行为学的方法来探索。具体目标1是描述绒猴的对唱呼唤反应，以便为项目的后续组成部分开发行为测定。具体目标2是使用即时早期基因表达，以确定潜在的antiphonal调用的神经基板。虽然可能涉及听觉皮层，但外侧前额叶的哪个特定区域参与对唱还不清楚。具体目标3是记录前额叶和听觉皮层的电生理活动，以确定这两个皮层区域在呼叫识别中的功能作用。这个项目将为灵长类动物交流的神经行为学的长期研究奠定基础，并有助于我们对灵长类动物新皮层复杂声音处理的理解。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application seeks to use the natural antiphonal calling behavior of common marmosets to examine the neural mechanisms underlying vocal signal recognition in primates, focusing specifically on the role of prefrontal cortex in this process. Antiphonal calling occurs when one individual recognizes a species-specific long call and responds to that vocalization by producing the same type of vocalization. Because antiphonal calling requires that individuals recognize the initial vocalization, this behavior represents a natural recognition system that can be probed using the neuroethological approach. Specific Aim1 is to characterize the antiphonal calling response of marmosets in order to develop a behavioral assay for the subsequent components of the project. Specific Aim 2 is to use immediate early gene expression to determine the neural substrates underlying antiphonal calling. While auditory cortex is likely involved, which specific region of lateral prefrontal is involved in antiphonal calling is unknown. Specific Aim 3 is to record electrophysiological activity in prefrontal and auditory cortex to determine the functional role of these two cortical areas in call recognition. This project will form the foundation for a long term study of the neuroethology of primate communication and contribute to our understanding of complex sound processing in the primate neocortex.