The neurobiology of primate vocal communication

- There is a caudal to rostral gradient of increasing vocalization-sensitivity in auditory cortex.
- Dynamic faces differentially influence voice processing in different auditory regions.
- In the context of vocal detection, dynamic faces speed up auditory cortex.
- Monkeys exhibit a circuit for self-monitoring during vocal production.

Recent investigations of non-human primate communication revealed vocal behaviors far more complex than previously appreciated. Understanding the neural basis of these communicative behaviors is important as it has the potential to reveal the basic underpinnings of the still more complex human speech. The latest work revealed vocalization-sensitive regions both within and beyond the traditional boundaries of the central auditory system. The importance and mechanisms of multi-sensory face-voice integration in vocal communication are also increasingly apparent. Finally, studies on the mechanisms of vocal production demonstrated auditory-motor interactions that may allow for self-monitoring and vocal control. We review the current work in these areas of primate communication research.