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Bodin C, Belin P. Exploring the cerebral substrate of voice perception in primate brains. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2019; 375:20180386. [PMID: 31735143 PMCID: PMC6895549 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2018.0386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
One can consider human language to be the Swiss army knife of the vast domain of animal communication. There is now growing evidence suggesting that this technology may have emerged from already operational material instead of being a sudden innovation. Sharing ideas and thoughts with conspecifics via language constitutes an amazing ability, but what value would it hold if our conspecifics were not first detected and recognized? Conspecific voice (CV) perception is fundamental to communication and widely shared across the animal kingdom. Two questions that arise then are: is this apparently shared ability reflected in common cerebral substrate? And, how has this substrate evolved? The paper addresses these questions by examining studies on the cerebral basis of CV perception in humans' closest relatives, non-human primates. Neuroimaging studies, in particular, suggest the existence of a ‘voice patch system’, a network of interconnected cortical areas that can provide a common template for the cerebral processing of CV in primates. This article is part of the theme issue ‘What can animal communication teach us about human language?’
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Affiliation(s)
- Clémentine Bodin
- Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone, UMR 7289 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Pascal Belin
- Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone, UMR 7289 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France.,Département de Psychologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
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Katsu N, Yamada K, Okanoya K, Nakamichi M. Temporal adjustment of short calls according to a partner during vocal turn-taking in Japanese macaques. Curr Zool 2019; 65:99-105. [PMID: 30697245 PMCID: PMC6347064 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoy077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Turn-taking is a common feature in human speech, and is also seen in the communication of other primate species. However, evidence of turn-taking in vocal exchanges within a short time frame is still scarce in nonhuman primates. This study investigated whether dynamic adjustment during turn-taking in short calls exists in Japanese macaques Macaca fuscata. We observed exchanges of short calls such as grunts, girneys, and short, low coos during social interactions in a free-ranging group of Japanese macaques. We found that the median gap between the turns of two callers was 250 ms. Call intervals varied among individuals, suggesting that call intervals were not fixed among individuals. Solo call intervals were shorter than call intervals interrupted by responses from partners (i.e., exchanges) and longer than those between the partner's reply and the reply to that call, indicating that the monkeys did not just repeat calls at certain intervals irrespective of the social situation. The differences in call intervals during exchanged and solo call sequences were explained by the response interval of the partner, suggesting an adjustment of call timing according to the tempo of the partner's call utterance. These findings suggest that monkeys display dynamic temporal adjustment in a short time window, which is comparable with turn-taking in human speech.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriko Katsu
- Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Meguro, Tokyo, Japan
- Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazunori Yamada
- Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kazuo Okanoya
- Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Meguro, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masayuki Nakamichi
- Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
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Herbst CT, Koda H, Kunieda T, Suzuki J, Garcia M, Fitch WT, Nishimura T. Japanese macaque phonatory physiology. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 221:jeb.171801. [PMID: 29615529 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.171801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2017] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Although the call repertoire and its communicative function are relatively well explored in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), little empirical data are available on the physics and the physiology of this species' vocal production mechanism. Here, a 6 year old female Japanese macaque was trained to phonate under an operant conditioning paradigm. The resulting 'coo' calls and spontaneously uttered 'growl' and 'chirp' calls were recorded with sound pressure level (SPL) calibrated microphones and electroglottography (EGG), a non-invasive method for assessing the dynamics of phonation. A total of 448 calls were recorded, complemented by ex vivo recordings on an excised Japanese macaque larynx. In this novel multidimensional investigative paradigm, in vivo and ex vivo data were matched via comparable EGG waveforms. Subsequent analysis suggests that the vocal range (range of fundamental frequency and SPL) of the macaque was comparable to that of a 7-10 year old human, with the exception of low intensity chirps, the production of which may be facilitated by the species' vocal membranes. In coo calls, redundant control of fundamental frequency in relation to SPL was also comparable to that in humans. EGG data revealed that growls, coos and chirps were produced by distinct laryngeal vibratory mechanisms. EGG further suggested changes in the degree of vocal fold adduction in vivo, resulting in spectral variation within the emitted coo calls, ranging from 'breathy' (including aerodynamic noise components) to 'non-breathy'. This is again analogous to humans, corroborating the notion that phonation in humans and non-human primates is based on universal physical and physiological principles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian T Herbst
- Bioacoustics Laboratory, Department of Cognitive Biology, University Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Hiroki Koda
- Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Aichi 484-8506, Japan
| | - Takumi Kunieda
- Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Aichi 484-8506, Japan
| | - Juri Suzuki
- Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Aichi 484-8506, Japan
| | - Maxime Garcia
- Bioacoustics Laboratory, Department of Cognitive Biology, University Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria.,ENES Lab, Université Lyon/Saint-Etienne, NEURO-PSI, CNRS UMR 9197, 23 rue Paul Michelon, 42023 Saint-Etienne, France
| | - W Tecumseh Fitch
- Bioacoustics Laboratory, Department of Cognitive Biology, University Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Takeshi Nishimura
- Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Aichi 484-8506, Japan
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Crockford C, Gruber T, Zuberbühler K. Chimpanzee quiet hoo variants differ according to context. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2018; 5:172066. [PMID: 29892396 PMCID: PMC5990785 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.172066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
In comparative studies of evolution of communication, the function and use of animal quiet calls have typically been understudied, despite that these signals are presumably under selection like other vocalizations, such as alarm calls. Here, we examine vocalization diversification of chimpanzee quiet 'hoos' produced in three contexts-travel, rest and alert-and potential pressures promoting diversification. Previous playback and observational studies have suggested that the overarching function of chimpanzee hoos is to stay in contact with others, particularly bond partners. We conducted an acoustic analysis of hoos using audio recordings from wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) of Budongo Forest, Uganda. We identified three acoustically distinguishable, context-specific hoo variants. Each call variant requires specific responses from receivers to avoid breaking up the social unit. We propose that callers may achieve coordination by using acoustically distinguishable calls, advertising their own behavioural intentions. We conclude that natural selection has acted towards acoustically diversifying an inconspicuous, quiet vocalization, the chimpanzee hoo. This evolutionary process may have been favoured by the fact that signallers and recipients share the same goal, to maintain social cohesion, particularly among those who regularly cooperate, suggesting that call diversification has been favoured by the demands of cooperative activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Crockford
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
- Budongo Conservation Field Station, Masindi, Uganda
| | - Thibaud Gruber
- Budongo Conservation Field Station, Masindi, Uganda
- Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Klaus Zuberbühler
- Budongo Conservation Field Station, Masindi, Uganda
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, UK
- Cognitive Science Centre, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
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Katsu N, Yamada K, Nakamichi M. Functions of post-conflict affiliation with a bystander differ between aggressors and victims in Japanese macaques. Ethology 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Noriko Katsu
- Graduate School of Arts and Sciences; The University of Tokyo; Meguro Tokyo Japan
- Graduate School of Human Sciences; Osaka University; Suita Osaka Japan
| | - Kazunori Yamada
- Graduate School of Human Sciences; Osaka University; Suita Osaka Japan
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Katsu N, Yamada K, Nakamichi M. Vocalizations during post-conflict affiliations from victims toward aggressors based on uncertainty in Japanese macaques. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0178655. [PMID: 28558070 PMCID: PMC5448802 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0178655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2016] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated the use of vocalizations called "grunts," "girneys," and "coos" accompanied by post-conflict affiliative interaction between former opponents (reconciliation) in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata). Although reconciliation functions to repair bonds, such interactions sometimes entail risks of receiving further aggression. Vocalizations can be used at a distance from the former opponent; thus, we predict that vocalizations are used particularly by victims of a conflict, and are frequently used in situations of uncertainty when it is difficult for them to estimate whether the former opponent will resume aggression. In addition, we predict that vocalizations are effective in preventing further aggression. To test these hypotheses, we conducted observations of post-conflict and matched-control situations in female Japanese macaques living in a free-ranging group. We found that former opponents tended to be attracted to each other within the first minute following a conflict, thus demonstrating reconciliation behavior. Vocalizations were more frequently used by the victims in post-conflict interactions than under control situations; however, this tendency was not found in aggressors. When affiliation with the former opponent occurred, victims were more likely to use vocalizations towards less familiar opponents. These findings suggest that Japanese macaques used vocalizations more often when interacting with less predictable former opponents. Victims were more likely to receive aggression from former aggressors when engaged in affiliations with them than under no such affiliations. No significant differences were found in the probability of the victims receiving aggression, regardless of whether they used vocalizations; thus, whether the victim benefits from using vocalizations in these contexts remains unclear. Japanese macaques form despotic societies and therefore, further aggression was inevitable, to some degree, after a conflict. The use of vocalizations by a victim was found to depend on the nature of their relationship with the aggressor; however, the effectiveness of this behavior requires further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriko Katsu
- Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazunori Yamada
- Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masayuki Nakamichi
- Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
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Katsu N, Yamada K, Nakamichi M. Influence of social interactions with nonmother females on the development of call usage in Japanese macaques. Anim Behav 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2016.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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