A mechanism for frequency modulation in songbirds shared with humans
In most animals that vocalize, control of fundamental frequency is a key element for effective communication. In humans, subglottal pressure controls vocal intensity but also influences fundamental frequency during phonation. Given the underlying similarities in the biomechanical mechanisms of vocal...
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2013
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| Acceso en línea: | https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_02706474_v33_n27_p11136_Amador http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_02706474_v33_n27_p11136_Amador |
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paper:paper_02706474_v33_n27_p11136_Amador2023-06-08T15:24:51Z A mechanism for frequency modulation in songbirds shared with humans air sac animal experiment article frequency modulation male mathematical model nonhuman priority journal songbird Taeniopygia guttata vocalization Air Sacs Animals Finches Humans Male Models, Neurological Phonation Songbirds Vocalization, Animal In most animals that vocalize, control of fundamental frequency is a key element for effective communication. In humans, subglottal pressure controls vocal intensity but also influences fundamental frequency during phonation. Given the underlying similarities in the biomechanical mechanisms of vocalization in humans and songbirds, songbirds offer an attractive opportunity to study frequency modulation by pressure. Here, we present a novel technique for dynamic control of subsyringeal pressure in zebra finches. By regulating the opening of a custom-built fast valve connected to the air sac system, we achieved partial or total silencing of specific syllables, and could modify syllabic acoustics through more complex manipulations of air sac pressure. We also observed that more nuanced pressure variations over a limited interval during production of a syllable concomitantly affected the frequency of that syllable segment. These results can be explained in terms of a mathematical model for phonation that incorporates a nonlinear description for the vocal source capable of generating the observed frequency modulations induced by pressure variations. We conclude that the observed interaction between pressure and frequency was a feature of the source, not a result of feedback control. Our results indicate that, beyond regulating phonation or its absence, regulation of pressure is important for control of fundamental frequencies of vocalizations. Thus, although there are separate brainstem pathways for syringeal and respiratory control of song production, both can affect airflow and frequency. We hypothesize that the control of pressure and frequency is combined holistically at higher levels of the vocalization pathways. © 2013 the authors. 2013 https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_02706474_v33_n27_p11136_Amador http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_02706474_v33_n27_p11136_Amador |
| institution |
Universidad de Buenos Aires |
| institution_str |
I-28 |
| repository_str |
R-134 |
| collection |
Biblioteca Digital - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA) |
| topic |
air sac animal experiment article frequency modulation male mathematical model nonhuman priority journal songbird Taeniopygia guttata vocalization Air Sacs Animals Finches Humans Male Models, Neurological Phonation Songbirds Vocalization, Animal |
| spellingShingle |
air sac animal experiment article frequency modulation male mathematical model nonhuman priority journal songbird Taeniopygia guttata vocalization Air Sacs Animals Finches Humans Male Models, Neurological Phonation Songbirds Vocalization, Animal A mechanism for frequency modulation in songbirds shared with humans |
| topic_facet |
air sac animal experiment article frequency modulation male mathematical model nonhuman priority journal songbird Taeniopygia guttata vocalization Air Sacs Animals Finches Humans Male Models, Neurological Phonation Songbirds Vocalization, Animal |
| description |
In most animals that vocalize, control of fundamental frequency is a key element for effective communication. In humans, subglottal pressure controls vocal intensity but also influences fundamental frequency during phonation. Given the underlying similarities in the biomechanical mechanisms of vocalization in humans and songbirds, songbirds offer an attractive opportunity to study frequency modulation by pressure. Here, we present a novel technique for dynamic control of subsyringeal pressure in zebra finches. By regulating the opening of a custom-built fast valve connected to the air sac system, we achieved partial or total silencing of specific syllables, and could modify syllabic acoustics through more complex manipulations of air sac pressure. We also observed that more nuanced pressure variations over a limited interval during production of a syllable concomitantly affected the frequency of that syllable segment. These results can be explained in terms of a mathematical model for phonation that incorporates a nonlinear description for the vocal source capable of generating the observed frequency modulations induced by pressure variations. We conclude that the observed interaction between pressure and frequency was a feature of the source, not a result of feedback control. Our results indicate that, beyond regulating phonation or its absence, regulation of pressure is important for control of fundamental frequencies of vocalizations. Thus, although there are separate brainstem pathways for syringeal and respiratory control of song production, both can affect airflow and frequency. We hypothesize that the control of pressure and frequency is combined holistically at higher levels of the vocalization pathways. © 2013 the authors. |
| title |
A mechanism for frequency modulation in songbirds shared with humans |
| title_short |
A mechanism for frequency modulation in songbirds shared with humans |
| title_full |
A mechanism for frequency modulation in songbirds shared with humans |
| title_fullStr |
A mechanism for frequency modulation in songbirds shared with humans |
| title_full_unstemmed |
A mechanism for frequency modulation in songbirds shared with humans |
| title_sort |
mechanism for frequency modulation in songbirds shared with humans |
| publishDate |
2013 |
| url |
https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_02706474_v33_n27_p11136_Amador http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_02706474_v33_n27_p11136_Amador |
| _version_ |
1768544593665589248 |