Vocal Communication

Question 1

Two parts to Vocal Communication and what are they/how are they important?

Answer 1

genetic factors (development of brain)
environment (learning)
-both are important for communication/language but people argue over which one is more important

Question 2

Verbal Dyspraxia

Answer 2

clinical condition where there is an impaired ability to do the movements that are required to speak

Question 3

The KE family (verbal dyspraxia)

Answer 3

This family tree showed that this disorder is caused by a mutation to the FOXP2 gene

Question 4

Can we tell from the KE Family that the FOXP2 is the reason for this disorder?

Answer 4

No because there could be another gene and we are only looking at one family which isn’t a big enough sample group to represent the rest of the population

Question 5

FOXP2 gene

Answer 5

-it is a transcription factor (controls the expression of other genes)
0 a mutation of this gene delays learning to speak

Question 6

The FOXP2 gene in humans vs animals

Answer 6

the gene used to be seen as different but as researchers broadened their human sample size they realized the gene between humans and apes isn’t that different

Question 7

Where is the FOXP2 gene expressed?

Answer 7

• in several species

- brain areas associated with vocal learning

Question 8

how does the gene differ in humans and mice?

Answer 8

a mutation in a mouse impair its vocalization

Question 9

What are mice vocalizations?

Answer 9

The are very high pitched and high frequnecy so you need to use special instruments to capture them
- genetically identical male mice have differences in vocalization

Question 10

What can’t the KO FOXP2 mice do?

Answer 10

They can’t make vocalizations, and they can’t learn

Question 11

In the FOXP2 gene test on mice, what are the HET mice?

Answer 11

Mice with one copy that has been deleted and the other copy is still there
- these mice still make vocalizations but not that much

Question 12

Do mice need to learn how to speak?

Answer 12

No, they can be raised in complete solidarity and will still make noises
- evidence for learning vocalization is weak

Question 13

sensitive period

Answer 13

• birds have this

- birds must be exposed to a song to develop naturally

Question 14

What controls song production in birds

Answer 14

• a series of brain nuclei and their connections

- controlled in the syrinx

Question 15

Process of learning a song (birds)

Answer 15

1) initial exposure to a tutor (hearing another bird sing the song)
2) successive approximation (just practice; has to hear itself practice)
3) crystallization into a permanent form (where it becomes permanent and they CANNOT learn new songs)

Question 16

Why do the birds need to hear themselves sing in the second stage?

Answer 16

If they can’t hear themselves then they can’t make the adjustments they need to make the song normal

Question 17

Posterior Pathway

Answer 17

Area HVC–> RA–> vocal muscles (syrinx)

• sending singals to the muscles to sing
• this pathway is important for learning AND production

Question 18

In the Posterior Pathway, what happens if you get brain damage to RA or HVC AFTER the song is learned?

Answer 18

This prevents the birds from singing

-these are essential for learning and signing

Question 19

Anterior Pathway

Answer 19

HVC LMAN
\ /
\ /
Area X
-both HVC and LMAN are sending projections to area X
-this pathway is important for SONG LEARNING

Question 20

In the Anterior Pathway, what happens when LMAN or Area X are damaged AFTER song is learned?

Answer 20

The bird can still sing, once they know it, it isn’t necessary for these brain regions to be working anymore

Question 21

Zebra finches and learning

Answer 21

-only have one song for life and learn it when they are young

Question 22

Canaries and learning

Answer 22

canaries can have multiple songs; their sensorimotor and crystallization periods are the same but they have these extra “sensory” stages that allow the bird to move on to another song
- they can also make adjustments to the songs as adults

Question 23

What increases in adult canaries during song learning (sensorimotor/practicing phase)?

Answer 23

The FOXP2 expression

Question 24

When do zebra finches express the FOXP2 gene and where?

Answer 24

Zebra finches express the FOXP2 gene in area X during the practicing phase but not in adulthood

Question 25

When does the FOXP2 gene get turned off in the zebra finch?

Answer 25

once the crystallization happens

Question 26

Broca’s area

Answer 26

• in the frontal lobe

- especially important for producing language

Question 27

What is the Wada test?

Answer 27

Researchers injected an anesthetic into your artery (neck) and it paralyzed the left side of your brain
- Participants then performed cognition tests

Question 28

in the Wada test, when participants were asked what they were given. . .

Answer 28

Participants couldn’t speak but they would point to the object

Question 29

In the Wada test, do they participants know that you put something into their left hand?

Answer 29

Yes and they can point to it

Question 30

Injuries to temporal bone of the skull can do what?

Answer 30

reduce speech

Question 31

What does Brocca’s area regulate?

Answer 31

Speech

Question 32

Nonfluent (or Broca’s) aphasia

Answer 32

difficulty producing speech but comprehension is good

Question 33

What does Wernicke’s area regulate

Answer 33

comprehension of speech but not production

Question 34

Fluent (Wernicke’s) aphasia

Answer 34

complex verbal output but much of it is nonsense

• patients have difficulty understanding what they hear
• further back in the brain that Broca’s

Question 35

Global aphasia

Answer 35

inability to understand or produce language

• associated with bigger injuries
• problems with Broca’s and Wernicke’s

Question 36

Wernicke-Geschwind model (disconnection theory)

Answer 36

• emphasizes language impairment following loss of connections among brain regions
• each component is involved with a particular feature of language

Question 37

What is the function of the auditory cortex?

Answer 37

The ability to say a SPOKEN word

Question 38

Wernicke’s area processes info from ______ to derive _____

Answer 38

auditory cortex; meaning

Question 39

Brain process of speaking a HEARD word

Answer 39

1. Primary auditory cortex
2. Wernicke’s area (where you get the meaning)
3. arcuate fasciculus
4. Broca’s area (say the word)
5. Motor Cortex

Question 40

Brain process of saying a word you READ

Answer 40

1. Primary visual cortex
2. Wernicke’s
3. Broca’s
4. Motor Cortex

Question 41

What does the motor theory of language propose?

Answer 41

The left hemisphere language zones are motor control systems

- these systems are involved in both production and perception of speech