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Mind and Intelligence Research Core

Laboratory for Biolinguistics

Kazuo OKANOYA, Ph.D.
Kazuo OKANOYA, Ph.D.
Laboratory Head
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PublicationMain Publications at RIKEN

Research Areas

Although language is a unique human behavior, several sub-faculties that enabled language could be shared with non-human animals. In particular, birdsong and rodent communication signals are important subjects in understanding the biological origin of human language. Bengalese finches, a species of songbird, sing complex songs with finite-state song syntax. Naked mole-rats and degus, rodent species, both utilize more than 17 types of vocal tokens to coordinate their social behavior. We use non-invasive techniques to study language perception and speech development in human infants and integrate these findings with those obtained from animal experiments. Our aim is to present a biological scenario for the origin of language. To attain this goal, we use a broad range of approaches, from developmental psychology to molecular genetics.


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Larger View
A Bengalese finch with syntactical songs (Right) and White-backed munia with simple songs (photo by Maki Ikebuchi)

Research Subjects

  1. Theoretical studies in biological origin of language
  2. Neural mechanisms for syntax in birds and humans
  3. Neural mechanisms for sound and meaning in rodents

Selected Publications

  1. Soma, M., Hiraiwa-Hasegawa, M., and Okanoya, K.:
    "Early ontogenetic effects on song quality in the Bengalese finch (Lonchura striata var. domestica): laying order, sibling competition and song syntax."
    Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 63, 363-370. (2009).
  2. Abla, D., Katahira, K., and Okanoya, K.:
    "Online assessment of statistical learning by event-related potentials."
    Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 20, 952-964. (2008).
  3. Katahira, K., Abla, D., Masuda, S., and Okanoya, K.:
    "Feedback-based error monitoring processes during musical performance: An ERP study."
    Neuroscience Research, 61, 120-128. (2008).
  4. Matsunaga, E. and Okanoya, K.:
    "Expression analysis of cadherins in the songbird brain: relationship to vocal system development."
    Journal of Comparative Neurology, 508, 329-342. (2008).
  5. Nishikawa, J., Okada, M., and Okanoya, K.:
    "Population coding of song element sequence in the Bengalese finch HVC."
    European Journal of Neuroscience, 27, 3273-3283. (2008).
  6. Okanoya, K., Tokimoto, N., Kumazawa, N., Hihara, S., and Iriki, A.:
    "Tool-use training in species of rodent: the emergence of an optimal motor strategy and functional understanding."
    PLoS One, 3, e18601-e18608. (2008).
  7. Seki, Y., Suzuki, K., Takahasi, M., and Okanoya, K.:
    "Song Motor control organizes acoustic patterns on two levels in Bengalese Wnches (Lonchura striata var. domestica)."
    Journal of Comparative Physiology A, 194, 533-543. (2008).
  8. Okanoya, K.:
    "Language evolution and an emergent property."
    Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 17, 271-276. (2007).
  9. Katahira, K., Okanoya, K., and Okada, M.:
    "A neural network model for generating complex birdsong syntax."
    Biological Cybernetics, 97, 441-448. (2007).
  10. Okanoya, K.:
    "Song syntax in Bengalese finches: proximate and ultimate analyses."
    Advance in the Study of Behaviour, 34, 297-346. (2004).

Main Publications at RIKEN


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