Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
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

Related Concept Videos

Convergent Evolution01:54

Convergent Evolution

31.3K
Evolution shapes the features of organisms over time, ensuring that they are suited for the environments in which they live. Sometimes, selection pressure leads to the rise of similar but unrelated adaptations in organisms with no recent common ancestors, a process known as convergent evolution.
31.3K
Communication01:03

Communication

8.5K
Communication between two animals occurs when one animal transmits an information signal that causes a change in the animal that receives the information. Organisms communicate with one another in a host of different ways. Signals can be auditory, chemical, visual, tactile, or a combination of these. Communication is a critical behavioral adaptation that promotes survival, growth, and reproduction.
8.5K
Nonconscious Mimicry01:13

Nonconscious Mimicry

5.1K
Nonconscious mimicry occurs when individuals alter their mannerisms to match the behaviors and expressions of those nearby, without intention.
5.1K
Signal Sequences and Sorting Receptors01:41

Signal Sequences and Sorting Receptors

14.2K
Signal sequences are short amino acid sequences that guide newly synthesized proteins to their proper location within the cell. Classical signal sequences are fifteen to sixty amino acids long and present at the N-terminus of a polypeptide chain. Each signal sequence has a conserved segment of basic residues towards their N terminus, a hydrophobic core, and a C-terminus rich in polar residues. The C-terminus also contains a signal cleavage site and features a -3 -1 sequence motif. The -3-1...
14.2K
Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade01:22

Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade

16.9K
When a ligand binds to a cell-surface receptor, the receptor's intracellular domain changes shape, which may either activate its enzyme function or allow its binding to other molecules. The initial signal is amplified by most signal transduction pathways. This means that a single ligand molecule can activate multiple molecules of a downstream target. Proteins that relay a signal are most commonly phosphorylated at one or more sites, activating or inactivating the protein. Kinases catalyze...
16.9K
Components of Language01:24

Components of Language

713
Language, whether spoken, signed, or written, consists of specific components: lexicon and grammar. The lexicon is the vocabulary of a language, comprising its words. Grammar is the set of rules used to convey meaning through the lexicon. For example, English grammar adds “-ed” to most verbs to indicate past tense. Words are formed by combining phonemes, which are the basic sound units of a language. Different languages have different sets of phonemes (e.g., “ah” vs.
713

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Could snort production reflect comfort in horses kept outdoors? A first study.

Die Naturwissenschaften·2026
Same author

Investigating Multimodal (Visual, Acoustic, and Thermal) Ovulatory Signaling in a Non-Human Primate Species (Cercocebus torquatus).

American journal of primatology·2026
Same author

Chimpanzee culture beyond the conspicuous: Evidence for broad-scale observational social learning in wild individuals.

iScience·2026
Same author

The evolutionary transition from intentional to overt communication: The role of script recognition.

Psychological review·2026
Same author

Postural Infant Carrying Adaptations by Wild Eastern Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) With Limb Disabilities.

American journal of primatology·2026
Same author

Languages evolve ergodically: Clarifications and responses.

Physics of life reviews·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 5, 2026

Author Spotlight: Investigating Vocal Information Representation in Small Primates and Its Alteration by Psychiatric Disorders Using Noninvasive EEG
07:52

Author Spotlight: Investigating Vocal Information Representation in Small Primates and Its Alteration by Psychiatric Disorders Using Noninvasive EEG

Published on: July 26, 2024

1.3K

Campbell's monkeys concatenate vocalizations into context-specific call sequences.

Karim Ouattara1, Alban Lemasson, Klaus Zuberbühler

  • 1Laboratoire EthoS Ethologie Animale et Humaine, Unité Mixte de Recherche 6552, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Rennes 1, Station Biologique, 35380 Paimpont, France.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|December 17, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Campbell's monkeys exhibit complex vocalizations, using sequences of calls to communicate specific external events. This primate communication system demonstrates a sophisticated level of proto-syntax, challenging previous assumptions about animal vocal control.

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Marmoset Research - Scope and Challenges
04:52

Author Spotlight: Marmoset Research - Scope and Challenges

Published on: June 9, 2023

2.5K
Experience is Instrumental in Tuning a Link Between Language and Cognition: Evidence from 6- to 7- Month-Old Infants' Object Categorization
05:35

Experience is Instrumental in Tuning a Link Between Language and Cognition: Evidence from 6- to 7- Month-Old Infants' Object Categorization

Published on: April 19, 2017

7.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 5, 2026

Author Spotlight: Investigating Vocal Information Representation in Small Primates and Its Alteration by Psychiatric Disorders Using Noninvasive EEG
07:52

Author Spotlight: Investigating Vocal Information Representation in Small Primates and Its Alteration by Psychiatric Disorders Using Noninvasive EEG

Published on: July 26, 2024

1.3K
Author Spotlight: Marmoset Research - Scope and Challenges
04:52

Author Spotlight: Marmoset Research - Scope and Challenges

Published on: June 9, 2023

2.5K
Experience is Instrumental in Tuning a Link Between Language and Cognition: Evidence from 6- to 7- Month-Old Infants' Object Categorization
05:35

Experience is Instrumental in Tuning a Link Between Language and Cognition: Evidence from 6- to 7- Month-Old Infants' Object Categorization

Published on: April 19, 2017

7.0K

Area of Science:

  • Primate communication
  • Animal behavior
  • Evolutionary linguistics

Background:

  • Primate vocal behavior is often overlooked in human language evolution studies due to perceived limitations in vocal control and intentional signaling.
  • Limited vocal control and lack of intentional signaling in primates have historically hindered their relevance in modeling human language evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the vocal complexity and combinatorial abilities of Campbell's monkeys.
  • To determine if primate vocalizations exhibit characteristics relevant to the evolution of human language, specifically proto-syntax.

Main Methods:

  • Long-term observational study of Campbell's monkeys.
  • Analysis of loud call types and their sequential combinations in various contexts.
  • Examination of call sequences in response to different external events, including predators.

Main Results:

  • Adult male Campbell's monkeys produce six distinct loud call types, combined into context-specific sequences.
  • Sequences are associated with specific events like cohesion, travel, falling trees, neighboring groups, and predator types (e.g., crowned eagles, leopards).
  • Call concatenation follows principles like nonrandom transitions, additions, and recombinations, indicating combinatorial organization.

Conclusions:

  • Campbell's monkeys overcome vocal control limitations through combinatorial organization of calls.
  • The complex, context-specific call system of Campbell's monkeys represents a significant example of proto-syntax in animal communication.
  • This finding suggests a more complex evolutionary pathway for language than previously assumed based on primate vocal behavior.