ScienceDaily: Plants & Animals News


Novel brainstem circuit gives rise to the rhythms of vocalization

Posted: 07 Jan 2022 12:21 PM PST

The vocal sounds of humans -- laughing, crying, and the babbling of babies -- have the same rhythmic quality as the sounds made by many mammals, songbirds, and even some species of fish. Researchers have discovered that a small cluster of neurons in the brain stem not only regulates tempo but also coordinates vocalization with breathing.