Dec 14, 2016
Macaque monkeys have the anatomy for human speech, so why can’t they speak?
Posted by Sean Brazell in categories: computing, neuroscience
While they have a speech-ready vocal tract, primates can’t speak because they lack a speech-ready brain, contrary to widespread opinion that they are limited by anatomy, researchers at Princeton University and associates have reported Dec. 9 in the open-access journal Science Advances.
The researchers reached this conclusion by first recording X-ray videos showing the movements of the different parts of a macaque’s vocal anatomy — such as the tongue, lips and larynx. They then converted that data into a computer model that could predict and simulate a macaque’s vocal range.
Continue reading “Macaque monkeys have the anatomy for human speech, so why can’t they speak?” »