Jove
Visualize
Contact Us

Related Experiment Videos

Neural pathways underlying vocal control.

Uwe Jürgens1

  • 1German Primate Centre, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.

Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
|February 22, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Vocalization involves laryngeal, respiratory, and articulatory motor control. A complex neural network coordinates these actions, with forebrain structures enabling voluntary vocal behavior.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Evolutionary loss of complexity in human vocal anatomy as an adaptation for speech.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2022
Same author

Concentrations of stiripentol in children and adults with epilepsy: the influence of dose, age, and comedication.

Therapeutic drug monitoring·2012
Same author

Serum concentrations of rufinamide in children and adults with epilepsy: the influence of dose, age, and comedication.

Therapeutic drug monitoring·2011
Same author

Serum concentrations of pregabalin in patients with epilepsy: the influence of dose, age, and comedication.

Therapeutic drug monitoring·2007
Same author

The descending motorcortical pathway to the laryngeal motoneurons in the squirrel monkey.

Brain research·2007
Same author

On the role of the reticular formation in vocal pattern generation.

Behavioural brain research·2006
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Motor Control
  • Speech Production

Background:

  • Vocalization is a complex behavior involving laryngeal, respiratory, and articulatory components.
  • Motoneurons controlling vocalization are located in the pons, medulla, and spinal cord.
  • Coordination relies on an extensive neural network receiving sensory input.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the neural circuitry underlying vocalization control.
  • To differentiate the neural pathways for innate vocal reactions versus voluntary vocalizations.
  • To detail the forebrain's role in voluntary vocal control and acoustic modulation.

Main Methods:

  • Review of neuroanatomical pathways involved in vocalization.
  • Analysis of motoneuronal pools and their coordinating networks.
  • Examination of sensory feedback mechanisms in vocal control.
  • Investigation of forebrain structures influencing voluntary vocalization.

Main Results:

  • Vocalization involves coordinated activity of motoneurons in the brainstem and spinal cord.
  • A specific network, including the parabrachial area and medullary reticular formation, coordinates vocalization.
  • The periaqueductal gray provides facilitatory input for vocalization.
  • Voluntary vocal control, distinct from innate reactions, requires intact forebrain structures, particularly the mediofrontal cortex and motor cortex.
  • The motor cortex utilizes both direct and indirect pathways, including the corticobulbar tract and an extrapyramidal pathway involving the putamen and substantia nigra, to control vocalization.
  • Cerebellar and somatosensory inputs are crucial for smooth vocal transitions and acoustic modulation.

Conclusions:

  • Vocalization is orchestrated by a distributed neural network with distinct pathways for innate and voluntary control.
  • The forebrain, especially the mediofrontal and motor cortices, is essential for voluntary vocalization initiation, suppression, and acoustic shaping.
  • Precise vocal motor control depends on integrated sensory feedback and cerebellar input for temporal accuracy.

Related Experiment Videos