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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 4, 2026

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Two different motor systems are needed to generate human speech.

Gert Holstege1, Hari H Subramanian1

  • 1Asia-Pacific Centre for Neuromodulation, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia.

The Journal of Comparative Neurology
|September 11, 2015
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Vocalizations originate in the emotional motor system, involving the periaqueductal gray (PAG) and nucleus retroambiguus (NRA). Humans uniquely produce speech by combining vocalization pathways with volitional motor control of facial and laryngeal muscles.

Keywords:
emotional motor systemlaughtermotor cortexnucleus retroambiguusperiaqueductal grayvolitional or somatic motor system

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Comparative Psychology
  • Speech Science

Background:

  • Vocalizations are key emotional expressions across species, originating from the emotional motor system.
  • The mesencephalic periaqueductal gray (PAG) is central to vocalization, with lesions causing mutism.
  • The PAG connects to the nucleus retroambiguus (NRA), which directly controls vocalization muscles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the neural pathways underlying vocalization and human speech.
  • To differentiate the mechanisms of basic vocalization from complex speech production.

Main Methods:

  • Review of neuroanatomical pathways involved in vocalization.
  • Analysis of lesion studies in cats, monkeys, and humans affecting vocalization.
  • Examination of the distinct motor systems involved in vocalization and speech.

Main Results:

  • Vocalization relies on the prefrontal-PAG-NRA-motoneuronal pathway.
  • Human speech production involves a dual activation: vocalization pathways and volitional motor cortex control.
  • The motor cortex modulates vocalization via corticobulbar fibers to speech muscles.

Conclusions:

  • Speech is a uniquely human capability enabled by the integration of two motor systems.
  • The prefrontal-PAG-NRA pathway generates basic vocalization.
  • Corticobulbar pathways enable the modulation of vocalization into complex speech.