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A mechanism for punctuating equilibria during mammalian vocal development.
Thiago T Varella1, Yisi S Zhang2, Daniel Y Takahashi2
1Department of Psychology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America.
Plos Computational Biology
|June 13, 2022
Summary
Vocal development in mammals like marmosets, bats, and humans shows sudden acoustic shifts. These transitions are driven by changes in energy expenditure and information transmission, supporting punctuated equilibrium in vocal learning.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Developmental biology
- Bioacoustics
Background:
- Evolutionary and developmental processes are often gradual.
- However, punctuated equilibria describe periods of rapid change interrupting stability.
- Early vocal development offers a model to study these transitions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sudden transitions in early vocal development across three mammal species.
- To model the underlying mechanisms driving these vocal changes.
- To test the role of energy expenditure and information transmission in vocal development.
Main Methods:
- Comparative acoustic analysis of vocalizations in common marmoset monkeys, Egyptian fruit bats, and humans.
- Developmental landscape modeling to identify transition mechanisms.
- Experimental manipulation of energy expenditure and information transmission in marmosets.
Main Results:
- All three species exhibited at least one sudden acoustic transition in vocal development.
- A shift in the balance of two vocalization landscapes best explained these transitions.
- These landscapes' dynamics align with energy expenditure and information transmission.
Conclusions:
- Vocal development in mammals can follow a punctuated equilibrium model.
- Energy expenditure and information transmission are key factors influencing vocal transition timing.
- Experimental evidence supports the role of these factors in shaping vocal development.
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