Targets for a Comparative Neurobiology of Language

Kiggins, Justin; Comins, Jordan A.; Gentner, Timothy Q.

doi:10.3389/fnevo.2012.00006

Cited by 13 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 133 publications

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“…Several basic processes for the coding of temporal sequences of items in the brain have recently been proposed (Dehaene et al, 2015). The encoding of transitions between two adjacent items, the merging of successive distinct elements into a single auditory object and other hypothetical mechanisms have been proposed (Kiggins et al, 2012;Dehaene et al, 2015). Songbirds are wellsuited species for the investigation of how neuronal circuits encode the temporal sequences of vocal items as their brain contains many interconnected neural networks specialized in perception, learning, and production of vocal sounds, like humans.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neuronal Encoding in a High-Level Auditory Area: From Sequential Order of Elements to Grammatical Structure

et al. 2019

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Sensitivity to the sequential structure of communication sounds is fundamental not only for language comprehension in humans but also for song recognition in songbirds. By quantifying single-unit responses, we first assessed whether the sequential order of song elements, called syllables, in conspecific songs is encoded in a secondary auditory cortex-like region of the zebra finch brain. Based on a habituation/ dishabituation paradigm, we show that, after multiple repetitions of the same conspecific song, rearranging syllable order reinstated strong responses. A large proportion of neurons showed sensitivity to song context in which syllables occurred providing support for the nonlinear processing of syllable sequences. Sensitivity to the temporal order of items within a sequence should enable learning its underlying structure, an ability considered a core mechanism of the human language faculty. We show that repetitions of songs that were ordered according to a specific grammatical structure (i.e., ABAB or AABB structures; A and B denoting song syllables) led to different responses in both anesthetized and awake birds. Once responses were decreased due to song repetitions, the transition from one structure to the other could affect the firing rates and/or the spike patterns. Our results suggest that detection was based on local differences rather than encoding of the global song structure as a whole. Our study demonstrates that a high-level auditory region provides neuronal mechanisms to help discriminate stimuli that differ in their sequential structure.Sequence processing has been proposed as a potential precursor of language syntax. As a sequencing operation, the encoding of the temporal order of items within a sequence may help in recognition of relationships between adjacent items and in learning the underlying structure. Taking advantage of the stimulus-specific adaptation phenomenon observed in a high-level auditory region of the zebra finch brain, we addressed this question at the neuronal level. Reordering elements within conspecific songs reinstated robust responses. Neurons also detected changes in the structure of artificial songs, and this detection depended on local transitions between adjacent or nonadjacent syllables. These findings establish the songbird as a model system for deciphering the mechanisms underlying sequence processing at the single-cell level.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neuronal Encoding in a High-Level Auditory Area: From Sequential Order of Elements to Grammatical Structure

et al. 2019

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“…This focus on formal syntactic complexity, however, disregards the close interaction in real-world signals between the structure of a pattern and its constituent elements as well as core biological and cognitive constraints intrinsic to temporal processing and, therefore, language. Others have argued that comparative studies are essential to the study of language precisely because they showcase how biological and cognitive mechanisms interact with dynamic real-world signals to tune pattern perception mechanisms crucial to aspects of language (Margoliash & Nusbaum, 2009; Kiggins, Comins, & Gentner, 2012). The latter perspective proposes to study language and its evolution in the context of the principles of organismal biology (Margoliash & Nusbaum, 2009), whereas the former posits these questions in the domain of mathematical formalisms specifically unburdened by such restrictions (Berwick, Okanoya, Beckers, & Bolhuis, 2011; Berwick, Beckers, Okanoya, & Bolhuis, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceptual categories enable pattern generalization in songbirds

Comins¹,

Gentner²

2013

Cognition

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Since Chomsky’s pioneering work on syntactic structures, comparative psychologists interested in the study of language evolution have targeted pattern complexity, using formal mathematical grammars, as the key to organizing language-relevant cognitive processes across species. This focus on formal syntactic complexity, however, often disregards the close interaction in real-world signals between the structure of a pattern and its constituent elements. Whether such features of natural auditory signals shape pattern generalization is unknown. In the present paper, we train birds to recognize differently patterned strings of natural signals (song motifs). Instead of focusing on the complexity of the overtly reinforced patterns, we ask how the perceptual groupings of pattern elements influence the generalization pattern knowledge. We find that learning and perception of training patterns is agnostic to the perceptual features of underlying elements. Surprisingly, however, these same features constrain the generalization of pattern knowledge, and thus its broader use. Our results demonstrate that the restricted focus of comparative language research on formal models of syntactic complexity is, at best, insufficient to understand pattern use.

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“…Language and its primary carrier signal, speech, unfold over time, and successful acquisition and comprehension of any language relies critically on the processing of information structured across time [6][7][8]. Likewise, many animal communication signals, although lacking some features of human language [see Ten Cate, in this issue] [9,10], are also structured in time.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%