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Response to Lieberman on "Monkey vocal tracts are speech-ready"
W Tecumseh Fitch1,2, Bart de Boer3, Neil Mathur4,5
1Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
Science Advances
|July 12, 2017
Summary
Macaques possess a vocal tract capable of producing speech sounds. However, their brains are not equipped to control this vocal apparatus for complex speech production.
Area of Science:
- Primate vocalization
- Neuroscience
- Speech production
Background:
- The evolution of human speech is a complex phenomenon.
- Understanding the neural and anatomical prerequisites for speech is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the vocal tract and neural control mechanisms in macaques.
- To determine if macaques have the necessary biological equipment for speech.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of macaque vocal tract anatomy.
- Neuroimaging studies to assess brain regions involved in vocal control.
Main Results:
- Macaques exhibit a vocal tract anatomy suitable for producing a wide range of sounds.
- Neural pathways and brain structures for fine-tuned vocal control, as seen in humans, are absent in macaques.
Conclusions:
- While macaques have the physical vocal apparatus, they lack the specialized neural control required for speech.
- The findings highlight the critical role of brain evolution in the development of primate and human speech.
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