The Scientist Speaks Podcast - Episode 1

Birds on the Brain: The Neuroscience Behind Songbird Communication and Human Speech

Written byNiki Spahich, PhD
| 1 min read
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Welcome to The Scientist Speaks, a new podcast produced by The Scientist’s Creative Services Team. Our podcast is by scientists and for scientists. Once a month, we will bring you the stories behind news-worthy molecular biology research.

In this month’s episode, we explore the neural mechanisms behind birdsong and what they tell us about human vocal learning and speech deficits in diseases such as autism spectrum disorder. We spoke with Stephanie White, professor of Integrative Biology and physiology at the University of California, Los Angeles, to learn more.

Special thanks to

Dr. Stephanie White from the University of California, Los Angeles for the normal, isolate, FoxP2, and Cntnap2 birdsongs

Dr. Yoko Yazaki-Sugiyama from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology for the Bengalese finch cross-fostered birdsongs

The Borror Laboratory of Bioacoustics at The Ohio State University for the American Robin bird sounds.

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Meet the Author

  • Niki Spahich headshot

    Niki Spahich earned her PhD in genetics and genomics from Duke University, where she studied Haemophilus influenzae membrane proteins that contribute to respiratory infections. She later explored Staphylococcus aureus metabolism during her postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to joining The Scientist, Niki taught biology, microbiology, and genetics at various academic institutions. She also developed a passion for science communication in written, visual, and spoken forms, which led her to start Science Riot, a nonprofit dedicated to teaching scientists how to communicate to the public through the lens of comedy. Niki is currently the manager of The Scientist's Creative Services Team.

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