FOR 5768:  Neural basis of vocal communication

• Subject Area: Medicine ; Biology
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 532521431

Social interactions among individuals often rely on the exchange of vocalizations. However, our understanding of the fundamental neural mechanisms governing the coordination of vocal communication throughout vertebrate classes is limited. Here, we propose to address the mechanisms underlying vocal motor control and audio-vocal integration across vertebrates. We plan to link research on vocal communication in diverse model systems (from fish to birds to several mammalian species including human) with neuroethological, neurophysiological (from single cell level to whole brain measurements), and computational approaches. While each selected animal model is featuring unique vocal behaviors and advantages, we also aim to find ways in which we can experimentally manipulate vocal behavior in comparable ways across taxa. Our overarching goal is to understand the contribution of cortical and subcortical areas to vocal communication. We will investigate species with different degrees of vocal flexibility and study different levels of neural complexity from single cell to large-scale neural networks. Therefore, we will explore the neural networks underlying vocal motor control and record from vocal production circuits within midbrain and brainstem areas, as well as cortical structures during either spontaneous or context-specific vocalizations. Hereby, we will focus on understanding the neural activity patterns resulting in affective as well as volitionally controlled vocalizations in different behavioral states. Furthermore, we aim to understand the neural correlates of auditory perception during vocal interactions. By uncovering broadly relevant algorithms across taxa that span 800 million years of evolution, we will transform our understanding of the wide range of cognitive and sensorimotor processes required by human communication.

• DFG Programme: Research Units
• International Connection: USA

Projects

• Comparison of vocal motor control regions in two bat species (Applicants Knörnschild, Mirjam ;  Scharff, Ph.D., Constance )
• Coordination Project (Applicant Hage, Steffen )
• Human speech processing in Broca’s area across neuronal scales (Applicant Jacob, Simon N. )
• Midbrain and brainstem of control of vocalizations in neutral and playful contexts (Applicant Brecht, Michael )
• Neural circuits for antiphonal calling in the naked mole-rat (Applicants Barker, Ph.D., Alison ;  Hechavarria, Julio )
• Neural control of vocal interaction in zebra finches (Applicant Vallentin, Daniela )
• Neural correlates of sequential context-depth in birdsong (Applicants Dayan, Peter ;  Veit, Lena )
• Neural mechanisms underlying rapid changes of vocal behavior in marmoset monkeys (Applicant Hage, Steffen )
• Neural representation of the number of self-generated vocalizations in crows (Applicant Nieder, Andreas )
• Vocal motor control circuits in Danionella cerebrum (Applicant Judkewitz, Ph.D., Benjamin )

• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Steffen Hage