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Auditory Circuits for Interpreting Vocal Communication Signals

Award Number: R01DC018321
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 01/01/2020
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/31/2029

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Auditory Circuits for Interpreting Vocal Communication Signals - Project Summary/Abstract Interpreting vocalizations in communication, such as human speech, necessitates the segmentation of the sound stream into meaningful units and the identification of their corresponding meanings. Although research on the neural basis of human speech perception has demonstrated the entrainment of neural activity in auditory areas by the speech sound envelope, the specific mechanisms underlying neural segmentation and its facilitation of the identification task remain poorly understood. Furthermore, while categorical neural responses to sound classes have been observed, the computational processes and representations enabling the categorization of a complete communication system, for example, encompassing all phonemes in a human language, remain largely unexplored. To bridge these gaps in knowledge, we have developed a songbird model that promises to shed light on these fundamental processes. In previous research, we made a significant breakthrough by uncovering a combinatorial neural code in the avian auditory cortex responsible for identifying all call types within a bird's repertoire. Building upon this discovery, our study aims to investigate how the auditory system generates this ensemble code for identification while concurrently segmenting the sound stream into meaningful segments. In Aim 1, we will examine the neural basis of segmentation using animals actively engaged in listening tasks or natural communication scenarios, allowing us to study the impact of attention on this process. The human vocal communication system also relies on the ability to learn and identify novel sound categories, such as new words or the distinct voice of a speaker. Fascinatingly, our research has demonstrated that songbirds possess a similar capacity to rapidly recognize the voice characteristics of numerous conspecifics. Accomplishing this voice identity task necessitates the formation of auditory memories. In Aim 2, we will explore the neural mechanisms underlying the identification task for these learned vocal categories. Our investigations will provide valuable insights into the roles played by distinct circuits within the auditory cortex in processing semantics and voice. This knowledge is critical for comprehending how dysfunctional auditory processing in multiple mental disorders as well as aging affects speech recognition and, subsequently, other cognitive abilities.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $446,805 )
2025	2025	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 201	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	6	12/24/2024	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$446,805
2025	2025	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 201	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	002	6	5/1/2025	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$45,374
2025	2024	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 201	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	5	5/1/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$45,374
														Subtotal = $446,805

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $311,116 )
2024	2024	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 201	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	5	5/3/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$31,112
2024	2024	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 201	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	5	1/6/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$280,004
														Subtotal = $311,116

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $312,187 )
2023	2023	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 201	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	4	12/30/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$280,969
2023	2023	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 201	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	4	1/14/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$31,218
														Subtotal = $312,187

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $313,208 )
2022	2022	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 201	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	3	4/20/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$31,321
2022	2022	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 220	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	3	12/14/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$281,887
														Subtotal = $313,208

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $314,181 )
2021	2021	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 220	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	2	12/27/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$282,762
2021	2021	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 220	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	2	1/13/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$31,419
														Subtotal = $314,181

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $315,106 )
2020	2020	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 220	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	1	11/11/2019	NEW	$315,106
														Subtotal = $315,106

Grand Total All Awards = $2,012,603

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Auditory Circuits for Interpreting Vocal Communication Signals

Award Number: R01DC018321

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 01/01/2020

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/31/2029

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