Vocal Communication Flashcards
Two parts to Vocal Communication and what are they/how are they important?
genetic factors (development of brain) environment (learning) -both are important for communication/language but people argue over which one is more important
Verbal Dyspraxia
clinical condition where there is an impaired ability to do the movements that are required to speak
The KE family (verbal dyspraxia)
This family tree showed that this disorder is caused by a mutation to the FOXP2 gene
Can we tell from the KE Family that the FOXP2 is the reason for this disorder?
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
FOXP2 gene
-it is a transcription factor (controls the expression of other genes)
0 a mutation of this gene delays learning to speak
The FOXP2 gene in humans vs animals
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
Where is the FOXP2 gene expressed?
- in several species
- brain areas associated with vocal learning
how does the gene differ in humans and mice?
a mutation in a mouse impair its vocalization
What are mice vocalizations?
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
What can’t the KO FOXP2 mice do?
They can’t make vocalizations, and they can’t learn
In the FOXP2 gene test on mice, what are the HET mice?
Mice with one copy that has been deleted and the other copy is still there
- these mice still make vocalizations but not that much
Do mice need to learn how to speak?
No, they can be raised in complete solidarity and will still make noises
- evidence for learning vocalization is weak
sensitive period
- birds have this
- birds must be exposed to a song to develop naturally
What controls song production in birds
- a series of brain nuclei and their connections
- controlled in the syrinx
Process of learning a song (birds)
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)
Why do the birds need to hear themselves sing in the second stage?
If they can’t hear themselves then they can’t make the adjustments they need to make the song normal
Posterior Pathway
Area HVC–> RA–> vocal muscles (syrinx)
- sending singals to the muscles to sing
- this pathway is important for learning AND production
In the Posterior Pathway, what happens if you get brain damage to RA or HVC AFTER the song is learned?
This prevents the birds from singing
-these are essential for learning and signing
Anterior Pathway
HVC LMAN
\ /
\ /
Area X
-both HVC and LMAN are sending projections to area X
-this pathway is important for SONG LEARNING
In the Anterior Pathway, what happens when LMAN or Area X are damaged AFTER song is learned?
The bird can still sing, once they know it, it isn’t necessary for these brain regions to be working anymore
Zebra finches and learning
-only have one song for life and learn it when they are young
Canaries and learning
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
What increases in adult canaries during song learning (sensorimotor/practicing phase)?
The FOXP2 expression
When do zebra finches express the FOXP2 gene and where?
Zebra finches express the FOXP2 gene in area X during the practicing phase but not in adulthood
When does the FOXP2 gene get turned off in the zebra finch?
once the crystallization happens
Broca’s area
- in the frontal lobe
- especially important for producing language
What is the Wada test?
Researchers injected an anesthetic into your artery (neck) and it paralyzed the left side of your brain
- Participants then performed cognition tests
in the Wada test, when participants were asked what they were given. . .
Participants couldn’t speak but they would point to the object
In the Wada test, do they participants know that you put something into their left hand?
Yes and they can point to it
Injuries to temporal bone of the skull can do what?
reduce speech
What does Brocca’s area regulate?
Speech
Nonfluent (or Broca’s) aphasia
difficulty producing speech but comprehension is good
What does Wernicke’s area regulate
comprehension of speech but not production
Fluent (Wernicke’s) aphasia
complex verbal output but much of it is nonsense
- patients have difficulty understanding what they hear
- further back in the brain that Broca’s
Global aphasia
inability to understand or produce language
- associated with bigger injuries
- problems with Broca’s and Wernicke’s
Wernicke-Geschwind model (disconnection theory)
- emphasizes language impairment following loss of connections among brain regions
- each component is involved with a particular feature of language
What is the function of the auditory cortex?
The ability to say a SPOKEN word
Wernicke’s area processes info from ______ to derive _____
auditory cortex; meaning
Brain process of speaking a HEARD word
- Primary auditory cortex
- Wernicke’s area (where you get the meaning)
- arcuate fasciculus
- Broca’s area (say the word)
- Motor Cortex
Brain process of saying a word you READ
- Primary visual cortex
- Wernicke’s
- Broca’s
- Motor Cortex
What does the motor theory of language propose?
The left hemisphere language zones are motor control systems
- these systems are involved in both production and perception of speech
