Neural systems for vocal learning in birds and humans: a synopsis

摘要: I present here a synopsis on hypothesis that derived the similarities and differences of vocal learning systems in birds for learned song humans spoken language. This states birds—songbirds, parrots, hummingbirds—and have comparable specialized forebrain regions are not found their close non-learning relatives. In birds, these appear to be divided into two sub-pathways, motor pathway mainly used produce vocalizations pallial–basal–ganglia–thalamic loop learn modify vocalizations. propose analogous pathways within adjacent pre-motor cortices, respectively, speech. Recent advances supported existence seven cerebral nuclei proposed brain humans. The results suggest reason why similar across distantly related learners is may evolved out pre-existing predates ancient split from common ancestor mammals. Although this will require development novel technologies fully tested, existing evidence there strong genetic constraints how neural can evolve.