Neural mechanisms underlying vocal production

描述（由申请人提供）：拟议研究的目的是了解灵长类动物大脑中发声的神经机制及其对正常和病理条件下人类语音处理机制的影响。早期的研究得出结论，大脑皮层在非人类灵长类动物的发声中几乎没有作用，这与人类皮层在言语产生中的作用形成鲜明对比，也与过去二十年积累的证据不一致。在这个应用程序中，我们将重新审视这个重要的问题，使用一个高度发声的灵长类动物，普通的绒猴（Callithrix jacchus），作为我们的实验模型。绒猴提供了一个独特的优势，比其他非人类灵长类动物物种通常用于实验室研究，因为它作为一个丰富的声乐曲目和有趣的声乐行为，很容易在实验室条件下进行研究。在目标1中，我们将确定与绒猴发声相关的额叶皮层区域。在这一目标的拟议实验将利用一个独特的声乐行为（“对唱呼叫”）和一个发达的慢性记录技术，以确定特定的皮质区参与发声的绒猴大脑。目的二利用无线录音技术研究自由漫游绒猴发声过程中额叶皮层神经元的生理特性。这方面的实验将有助于确定绒猴大脑中负责产生和控制发声的皮层区域网络。目的3将使用可逆失活方法研究特定额叶皮层区域在控制发声中的作用。这项研究的结果将揭示灵长类动物大脑中负责发声的神经机制，并对理解大脑在说话和听力过程中的运作方式产生影响。 公共卫生相关性：大脑如何处理语音对社会中每个人的福祉都至关重要，但迄今为止在很大程度上仍然未知。本研究的发现将有助于我们了解灵长类动物大脑中发声的神经机制。这对理解正常和病理条件下人类的言语产生机制具有重要意义。.

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The objective of the proposed research is to understand neural mechanisms underlying vocal production in the primate brain and their implications for human speech processing mechanisms in normal and pathological conditions. Earlier studies concluded that the cerebral cortex plays little role in vocal production in non-human primates, which is in sharp contrast to the role of human cortex in speech production and inconsistent with accumulating evidence from the past two decades. In this application, we will re-examine this important question using a highly vocal primate, the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), as our experimental model. The marmoset provides a unique advantage over other non-human primate species typically used in laboratory studies in that it as a rich vocal repertoire and interesting vocal behaviors that are readily studied in laboratory conditions. In Aim 1, we will identify frontal cortex areas associated with vocal production in marmosets. The proposed experiments in this aim will take the advantage of a unique vocal behavior ("antiphonal calling") and a well-developed chronic recording technique to identify specific cortical areas in the marmoset brain involved in vocal production. Aim 2 will study physiological properties of neurons in the frontal cortex during vocal exchanges in freely roaming marmosets using a wireless recording technique. Experiments in this aim will help identify the network of cortical areas in the marmoset brain that are responsible for generating and controlling vocalizations. Aim 3 will examine the roles of specific frontal cortex areas in controlling vocal production using reversible inactivation methods. Findings from the proposed study will shed lights on neural mechanisms responsible for vocal production in the primate brain and have implications for understanding how the brain operates during speaking and hearing. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: How the brain processes speech is of the fundamental importance to the well-being of everyone in the society, but remains largely unknown to date. Findings of the present study will contribute to our understanding of neural mechanisms underlying vocal production in the primate brain. They will have important implications for understanding human speech production mechanisms in normal and pathological conditions. .