Abstract
Vocal production learning, the ability to modify the structure of vocalizations as a result of hearing those of others, has been studied extensively in birds but less attention has been given to its occurrence in mammals. We summarize the available evidence for vocal learning in mammals from the last 25 years, updating earlier reviews on the subject. The clearest evidence comes from cetaceans, pinnipeds, elephants and bats where species have been found to copy artificial or human language sounds, or match acoustic models of different sound types. Vocal convergence, in which parameter adjustments within one sound type result in similarities between individuals, occurs in a wider range of mammalian orders with additional evidence from primates, mole-rats, goats and mice. Currently, the underlying mechanisms for convergence are unclear with vocal production learning but also usage learning or matching physiological states being possible explanations. For experimental studies, we highlight the importance of quantitative comparisons of seemingly learned sounds with vocal repertoires before learning started or with species repertoires to confirm novelty. Further studies on the mammalian orders presented here as well as others are needed to explore learning skills and limitations in greater detail.This article is part of the theme issue ‘Vocal learning in animals and humans’.
Highlights
Vocal production learning, the ability to modify the structure of vocalizations as a result of hearing those of conspecifics or sometimes other species, either live or from a recording [1], has received concentrated research attention in birds since the advent of the sound spectrograph in the 1950s [2]
Good evidence for vocal production learning in toothed whales comes from bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
With more detailed evidence available, it becomes apparent that vocal production learning is not an all or nothing skill but that it can influence vocal behaviour to different degrees
Summary
The ability to modify the structure of vocalizations as a result of hearing those of conspecifics or sometimes other species, either live or from a recording [1], has received concentrated research attention in birds since the advent of the sound spectrograph in the 1950s [2]. Apart from studies that clearly show the copying of novel sounds (such as in copying of other species) or copying of different call or song types in different experimental groups of animals, we summarize data on vocal convergence (figure 1). The underlying mechanisms of convergence are often unclear since different animals could use the same version of a vocalization because they are in the same motivational or physiological state (e.g. fearful animals often produce vocalizations with higher fundamental frequencies) In such cases, learning does not need to be involved. Vocal learning skills can be restricted to specific parameter modifications or allow for copying of different species with a range of skills in between [13] On this continuum, convergence could indicate a limited production learning ability. What we aim for here is to summarize the best available evidence for vocal learning in mammals
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