Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 28, 2026
10:13
A Lightweight, Headphones-based System for Manipulating Auditory Feedback in Songbirds
Published on: November 26, 2012
14.9K
Lingual articulation in songbirds
Roderick A Suthers1, John R Rothgerber2, Kenneth Kragh Jensen3
1Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Jordan Hall, Indiana University, 1001 East Third Street, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA suthers@indiana.edu.
The Journal of Experimental Biology
|December 20, 2015
Summary
Northern cardinals use tongue elevation to tune vocal tract resonance for low-frequency songs. This mechanism lowers resonance frequency by constricting the passage from the oral cavity into the beak.
Area of Science:
- Bioacoustics
- Animal Communication
- Vocal Tract Physiology
Background:
- Human speech relies on lingual articulation for vowel formants.
- Songbird oropharyngeal-esophageal cavity acts as a resonance filter.
- Northern cardinal song frequency is influenced by cavity volume above 2 kHz.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the role of the tongue in vocal tract filtering in northern cardinals.
- Determine how vocal tract tracks low song frequencies below 2 kHz.
Main Methods:
- X-ray cineradiography of northern cardinals during song production.
- Analysis of tongue movement and vocal tract shape.
- Computational modeling of songbird vocal tract resonance.
Main Results:
- Prominent tongue elevation observed below 2 kHz song frequencies.
- Tongue elevation appears to reduce the oral cavity to beak passage area.
- This action is predicted to lower resonance frequency.
Conclusions:
- Tongue elevation is a key mechanism for tuning vocal tract resonance in northern cardinals below 2 kHz.
- Active adjustment of vocal tract shape (cavity volume and beak constriction) is crucial for song frequency modulation.
- Findings align with computational models of songbird vocalization.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Larynx
6.2K
The human larynx, often referred to as the voice box, is an intricate organ located in the neck. It serves as a pathway for air to enter the lungs during respiration and is an essential component of voice production.
Anatomy of the Larynx
The larynx consists of various components, including cartilage, muscles, and vocal cords. Its structure includes three large unpaired cartilages—the thyroid, cricoid, and epiglottis—and three smaller paired cartilages—the arytenoids,...
Anatomy of the Larynx
The larynx consists of various components, including cartilage, muscles, and vocal cords. Its structure includes three large unpaired cartilages—the thyroid, cricoid, and epiglottis—and three smaller paired cartilages—the arytenoids,...
6.2K
01:12The Hyoid Bone
6.4K
The hyoid bone is a small U-shaped bone located in the upper neck at the level of the inferior mandible, with its tips pointing posteriorly. It does not directly articulate with any other bone in the body. The hyoid acts as the attachment site for the tongue, the larynx, and the pharynx. It is held in position by a series of small muscles attached from above or below. These muscles help to move the hyoid up/down or forward/back in coordination with movements of the tongue, larynx, and pharynx...
6.4K
01:25Deglutition
7.7K
Swallowing, otherwise known as deglutition, facilitates the transport of food from the mouth to the stomach. It is a multifaceted process that involves both the tongue and the muscles of the throat and esophagus. Saliva and mucus aid in this process, which takes approximately 4 to 8 seconds for semi-solid or solid food and around 1 second for liquids or very soft food.
Swallowing can be divided into three stages: the voluntary phase, the pharyngeal phase, and the esophageal phase. Although the...
Swallowing can be divided into three stages: the voluntary phase, the pharyngeal phase, and the esophageal phase. Although the...
7.7K
01:11The Auditory Ossicles
3.7K
The auditory ossicles of the middle ear transmit sounds from the air as vibrations to the fluid-filled cochlea. The auditory ossicles consist of two malleus (hammer) bones, two incus (anvil) bones, and two stapes (stirrups), one on each side. These bones develop during the fetal stage and are the ones to ossify first. They are fully mature at birth and do not grow afterward.
The aptly named stapes look very much like a stirrup. The three ossicles are unique to mammals, and each plays a role in...
The aptly named stapes look very much like a stirrup. The three ossicles are unique to mammals, and each plays a role in...
3.7K
01:01Tongue
3.9K
The human tongue is a fascinating and complex organ, responsible for various essential functions such as swallowing, speech, and taste. It is also subject to various conditions and diseases. In this article, we delve into the anatomy of the tongue, its roles, and some common conditions that can affect it.
Anatomical Position in the Oral Cavity
The tongue is located within the oral cavity, also known as the mouth. It is attached to the floor of the mouth by a fold of mucous membrane called the...
Anatomical Position in the Oral Cavity
The tongue is located within the oral cavity, also known as the mouth. It is attached to the floor of the mouth by a fold of mucous membrane called the...
3.9K
01:20Pharynx
8.9K
The pharynx, a tubular structure framed by skeletal muscle and lined with mucous membrane, extends continuously from the nasal cavities. It is segmented into three major areas: the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx.
Nasopharynx
The nasopharynx, bordered by the conchae of the nasal cavity, serves exclusively as an air conduit. In its superior region, the pharyngeal tonsils or adenoids are located. These tonsils are clusters of lymphoid reticular tissue akin to a lymph node. The precise...
Nasopharynx
The nasopharynx, bordered by the conchae of the nasal cavity, serves exclusively as an air conduit. In its superior region, the pharyngeal tonsils or adenoids are located. These tonsils are clusters of lymphoid reticular tissue akin to a lymph node. The precise...
8.9K