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[On the evolution of voice (author's transl)]
Archiv Fur Psychiatrie Und Nervenkrankheiten
|October 28, 1976
Summary
Vocalizations evolved from simple laryngeal modulations in lower vertebrates to complex learned behaviors in humans, involving distinct brain pathways. This study traces the phylogenetic development of vocal control from amphibians to humans.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Neuroscience
- Speech and hearing science
Context:
- The evolution of vocal communication is a key area in understanding human language origins.
- Animal vocalizations, while diverse, primarily rely on laryngeal control, unlike human speech which involves extensive articulation.
- Cerebral control over vocal behavior shows significant phylogenetic development.
Purpose:
- To survey the phylogenetic development of the laryngeal and supralaryngeal apparatus.
- To outline the parallel evolution of vocal behavior and the vocal apparatus.
- To examine the cerebral organization underlying vocal production across species.
Summary:
- Vocal production evolved from basic laryngeal modulations in amphibians and reptiles to complex, cortically controlled learned behaviors in humans.
- The dorsal midbrain-pons transitional zone is crucial for innate vocalizations in lower vertebrates, while higher mammals and humans utilize cortical control (anterior cingulate cortex, cortical face area) for voluntary and learned vocalizations.
- While animal vocal repertoires are rich, they are primarily laryngeal, with minimal supralaryngeal articulation, contrasting with human speech.
Impact:
- Provides insights into the evolutionary basis of human speech and language.
- Highlights the neurobiological underpinnings of vocal control and its development.
- Contributes to understanding disorders of speech production, such as dysarthria.