Compensatory mechanisms affect sensorimotor integration during ongoing vocal motor acts in marmoset monkeys
Thomas Pomberger1,2, Julia Löschner1, Steffen R Hage1,3
1Neurobiology of Vocal Communication, Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
The European Journal of Neuroscience
|March 15, 2020
Summary
Marmoset monkeys rapidly adjust vocalizations when noise begins mid-call, increasing frequency but decreasing amplitude. This suggests marmosets can override the involuntary Lombard effect, employing a noise avoidance strategy.
Area of Science:
- Animal Behavior
- Bioacoustics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Vocal communication faces challenges from acoustic interference (e.g., rain, urban noise).
- Animals use strategies like the Lombard effect (increased amplitude) and temporal avoidance to enhance signal clarity.
- Marmoset monkeys exhibit vocal flexibility and audio-vocal integration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if marmosets can alter call structure when acoustic noise starts after call onset.
- To determine if marmosets exhibit vocal changes in response to sudden noise perturbations.
Main Methods:
- Marmoset vocal behavior was studied using acoustic perturbation triggered by their calls.
- Noise was introduced after the onset of marmoset vocalizations.
- Changes in call amplitude and frequency were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Marmosets rapidly modulated call amplitude and frequency in response to noise onset.
- Call frequency increased swiftly after noise perturbation.
- Contrary to the Lombard effect, marmosets decreased call intensity (amplitude) in noisy conditions.
Conclusions:
- Marmosets demonstrate rapid audio-vocal adaptation to acoustic perturbations.
- These findings challenge the universality of the Lombard effect, suggesting marmosets can counteract it.
- Marmosets appear to employ a noise avoidance strategy, potentially overriding involuntary responses.
Keywords:
Callithrix jacchusacoustic perturbationaudio-vocal integrationvocal communicationvocal motor controlvocalizationMore Related Videos
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