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Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings
Published on: August 1, 2018
Neurons controlling voluntary vocalization in the macaque ventral premotor cortex.
Gino Coudé1, Pier Francesco Ferrari, Francesca Rodà
1Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università di Parma, Parma, Italy. gino.coude@nemo.unipr.it
Plos One
|November 11, 2011
Summary
Researchers studied the ventral premotor cortex (PMv) in monkeys to understand voluntary vocalization. They found PMv neurons are active during learned calls, suggesting a key role in the evolution of speech.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Primatology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Voluntary control of phonation is vital for speech evolution.
- Human ventral premotor cortex (PMv) and Broca's area are implicated in voluntary phonation.
- Limited neurophysiological data exist on nonhuman primate PMv's role in vocalization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the oro-facial sector of the nonhuman primate PMv in voluntary phonation.
- To record PMv neuronal activity during trained vocalizations in monkeys.
Main Methods:
- Electrophysiological recordings of PMv neurons in two monkeys.
- Monkeys were trained to emit coo-calls for vocalization tasks.
- Analysis of neuronal firing patterns relative to sound onset and vocalization type.
Main Results:
- A specific population of PMv motor neurons fired during vocalization.
- Approximately two-thirds of these neurons discharged before sound onset; the rest were time-locked.
- Vocalization-selective neuronal responses occurred only during voluntary (conditioned) calls, not spontaneous (emotional) ones.
Conclusions:
- PMv neuronal control of vocal production appears to be an emerging property in the monkey lineage.
- These findings offer insights into the evolution of phonation-based communication from a nonhuman primate perspective.
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