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EDRI Federal Project Inventory:
Neural and Endocrine Regulation of Vocal Communication
- Sponsor Organization: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
- Project Title: NEURAL AND ENDOCRINE REGULATION OF VOCAL COMMUNICATION
- Project Focus: ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS
- Description: Verbal and non-verbal communication skills are widely used throughout
the animalkingdom for mate selection and reproduction, food
collection and formation of socialstructures. However, the brain
mechanisms involved in communication are frequentlycomplex and
difficult to study. Dr. Bass, a highly regarded
behavioralneuroendocrinologist, has identified and characterized a
unique neural system of vocalcommunication in a simple vertebrate
species during his previous investigations. Thissystem is unique in
that a single muscle is responsible for the generation of sound.
Inthe present study, Dr. Bass will use a highly creative and
integrative approach to studythe brain mechanisms involved in
generating rhythmical vocal behaviors and the roleof androgens in
gender-specific differentiation of that circuitry and behavior.
Previousstudies identified a brain command center for vocal behavior
and electrical recordingswill be used to determine the anatomical
connections of the system. Additional studieswill investigate the
ability of androgenic hormones to act within this command center
tofacilitate the development of vocal behaviors in these animals.
These studies have thepotential to define the actions of hormones on
neural pathways leading to behaviorchanges, which may be applicable to
other species including man.
- References:
- Category: MODELS
- Subcategory: BASIC RESEARCH
- Keywords for Experimental System/Species: FISH, IN VIVO, LABORATORY STUDIES
- Keywords for Experimental Endpoints: NEUROLOGICAL, REPRODUCTIVE, HORMONE MEASURES, SEX STEROIDS, PEPTIDE
HORMONES, PHYSIOLOGY, BREEDING BEHAVIOR,
- Chemical Agents: Androgens, Sex Steroids
- Performing Institution: Cornell University-Endowed
- Contact: Andrew H Bass, 123 Day Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853-2801 607 255-2000
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