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声音产生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声音产生中发挥的作用很小，这与人类皮层在语言产生中的作用形成鲜明对比，与过去20年积累的证据不一致。在这个应用程序中，我们将使用一种高度发声的灵长类动物，普通狨猴（Callithrix jacchus）作为我们的实验模型，重新审视这个重要的问题。狨猴与其他非人类灵长类动物相比，具有独特的优势，因为它具有丰富的声乐曲目和有趣的声乐行为，可以在实验室条件下进行研究。在目标1中，我们将识别与狨猴发声相关的额叶皮质区域。在这个目标中提出的实验将利用独特的发声行为（“对偶鸣叫”）和一种成熟的慢性记录技术来识别狨猴大脑中参与发声的特定皮质区域。目的2将使用无线录音技术研究自由漫游的狨猴在声音交流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识别狨猴大脑中负责产生和控制发声的皮质区域网络。目的3将研究使用可逆失活方法控制声音产生的特定额叶皮质区域的作用。这项研究的发现将揭示灵长类动物大脑中负责声音产生的神经机制，并对理解大脑在说话和听力过程中如何运作具有重要意义。

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. .