Processing of social communication calls in primate auditory cortex. ID: DP0557306

The conscious perception of speech and other sounds depends on a set of brain areas, collectively termed the auditory cortex. Relatively little is known the processing of complex sounds within many of these areas. We will explore this question by recording the electrical activity of brain cells in marmosets while they communicate with members of their own species. By examining the complex interrelationships between sounds, brain activity, and behavior we will be able to determine the specific contribution of individual brain areas to call recognition. The results will shed light on the brain mechanisms that mediate perception, and may lead to advances in hearing aids and speech recognition technologies.