From Humming Fish To Puccini: Vocal Communication Evolved With Ancient Species
Thursday, July 17, 2008 - 18:35
in Biology & Nature
It's a long way from the dull hums of the amorous midshipman fish to the strains of a Puccini aria -- or, alas, even to the simplest Celine Dion melody. But the neural circuitry that led to the human love song -- not to mention birdsongs, frog thrums and mating calls of all manner of vertebrates -- was likely laid down hundreds of millions of years ago with the hums and grunts of the homely piscine.