Auditory-Vocal Interaction Mechanisms

拟议研究的总体目标是揭示潜在的生理机制 非人类灵长类动物中的发声-发声相互作用。这种机制对我们的国家具有根本的重要性。 了解人类的言语产生和感知机制，但了解甚少， 没有足够的非人灵长类动物模型可用于在细胞水平上解决这些问题。在 在这个应用程序中，我们将在一个高度发声的灵长类动物，普通的绒猴中检查我们的研究问题 （Callithrix jacchus）。与其他非人类灵长类动物相比， 物种：丰富的声乐曲目，高繁殖率，而在圈养，和一个光滑的大脑，允许容易 进入大脑皮层的各个部分在拟议的实验中，我们将重点放在神经基板的 绒猴听觉皮层中的发声-发声相互作用。在目标1中，我们将开发一种行为范式， 实验性地诱导普通绒猴发声。行为上的能力（而不是电） 长期以来，研究人员一直在寻找猴子的发声，这仍然是研究的一个重大障碍。 研究非人类灵长类动物的发声控制机制。我们将在目标2中研究 听觉皮层参与语音-声音的相互作用。这一目标的结果将揭示功能和 在绒猴听觉皮层中参与发声-发声相互作用的神经元的解剖学特性，以及 为将来研究它们与参与发声的大脑结构的连接铺平了道路。在 目的3：研究行为语境在听觉皮层内的语音-声音交互中的作用。 绒猴在不同的行为环境中产生广泛的发声。我们将调查 不同类型的发声是否在个体听觉皮层中产生不同的调制效应 神经元本研究的发现将为理解言语感知机制提供重要的参考 建立一个非人类灵长类动物模型，以研究与疾病有关的问题， 言语和听力障碍。

The overall objective of the proposed research is to reveal physiological mechanisms underlying auditory-vocal interaction in non-human primates. Such mechanisms have fundamental importance to our understanding of human speech production and perception mechanisms but are poorly understood, and there are no adequate non-human primate models available to address these issues at the cellular level. In this application, we will examine our research questions in a highly vocal primate, the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). The marmoset provides several important advantages over other non-human primate species: a rich vocal repertoire, a high reproductive rate while in captivity, and a smooth brain allowing easy access to all parts of the cerebral cortex. In the proposed experiments, we will focus on neural substrates of auditory-vocal interactions in marmoset auditory cortex. In Aim 1, we will develop a behavioral paradigm to experimentally induce vocalizations in the common marmoset. The ability to behaviorally (not electrically) elicit vocalizations in monkeys has long been sought by researchers and remains a significant obstacle in the study of vocal control mechanisms in non-human primates. We will study in Aim 2 how various areas of the auditory cortex are involved in auditory-vocal interactions. Findings from this aim will reveal functional and anatomical properties of neurons involved in auditory-vocal interactions in marmoset auditory cortex, and pave the way for future studies of their connectivity with the brain structures involved in vocal production. In Aim 3, we will study the role of behavioral context in auditory-vocal interactions within auditory cortex. Marmosets produce a wide range of vocalizations in different behavioral contexts. We will investigate whether different types of vocalizations produce different modulatory effects in individual auditory cortical neurons. Findings of this research will provide important insight into speech perception mechanisms in humans and establish a non-human primate model to investigate issues related to diseases and dysfunctions in speech and hearing.