From whispers to howling cries: Sound production and perception in nonhuman primates

Abstract Animal vocal communication serves various purposes. It can mediate both intraspecific and interspecific, or intrasexual and intersexual communication in several different contexts (e.g., in antipredator, reproductive, and cohesion events). Increasing our knowledge of the physiological mechanisms and acoustic principles underlying sound production and perception in nonhuman primates is important for analyzing primate vocalizations at the light of their commonalities with other species, allowing broader comparative studies with other vertebrates. This chapter reviews recent progress in the study of auditory processing, from vocal production to vocal perception in nonhuman primates, with particular focus on vocal plasticity in different behavioral contexts. The chapter also reviews new advances in laying a framework for understanding the interplay of hormones, experience, perception, and learning on vocal production.