Abstract

It is commonly accepted that language functions are processed asymmetrically in the human brain, with the left hemisphere dominant. It is believed that this lateralization enables the rapid perception, organization, and production of the complex acoustic signals that are essential for human spoken language. For those interested in the evolution of both the behavioral and neurological substrates of human speech, it is imperative to examine the phylogenetic origins of this neural lateralization. One way to approach this issue is to study the neuroanatomical structures involved in the perception and processing of nonhuman primate vocal signals. Advances in functional neural imaging techniques now make it possible to examine these systems in vivo. The following project is proposed to determine whether or not chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes, perceive and process communicatively salient vocalizations via a left- lateralized mechanism. To accomplish this aim, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) will be used to visualize neuronal activity in chimpanzees while perceiving conspecific vocalizations. ? ? ?

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
1F32DC007823-01A2
Application #
7114134
Study Section
Communication Disorders Review Committee (CDRC)
Program Officer
Sklare, Dan
Project Start
2006-01-02
Project End
2009-01-01
Budget Start
2006-01-02
Budget End
2007-01-01
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$45,976
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
Emory University
Department
Type
Other Domestic Higher Education
DUNS #
066469933
City
Atlanta
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30322

  Publications

Talkington, William J; Taglialatela, Jared P; Lewis, James W (2013) Using naturalistic utterances to investigate vocal communication processing and development in human and non-human primates. Hear Res 305:74-85
Taglialatela, Jared P; Russell, Jamie L; Schaeffer, Jennifer A et al. (2009) Visualizing vocal perception in the chimpanzee brain. Cereb Cortex 19:1151-7
Hopkins, William D; Taglialatela, Jared P; Meguerditchian, Adrien et al. (2008) Gray matter asymmetries in chimpanzees as revealed by voxel-based morphometry. Neuroimage 42:491-7
Taglialatela, Jared P; Russell, Jamie L; Schaeffer, Jennifer A et al. (2008) Communicative signaling activates 'Broca's'homolog in chimpanzees. Curr Biol 18:343-8
Taglialatela, Jared P; Dadda, Marco; Hopkins, William D (2007) Sex differences in asymmetry of the planum parietale in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Behav Brain Res 184:185-91
Taglialatela, Jared P; Cantalupo, Claudio; Hopkins, William D (2006) Gesture handedness predicts asymmetry in the chimpanzee inferior frontal gyrus. Neuroreport 17:923-7