Vocal Stereotypy Research Articles

The clinical spectrum of stereotypies in frontotemporal lobar degeneration

AbstractWe clinically assessed patients meeting international criteria for frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) for the presence and characteristics of stereotypies. Of 32 subjects with FTLD (50% women), 19 (60%) had stereotypies. The majority of patients with stereotypies were female (68%). The median age of symptom onset suggestive of FTLD was 58 years (range: 37–74), with a mean time to stereotypy onset of 2.1 years. In all cases, the stereotypies were simple. There were no differences in the age of FTLD onset, functional imaging results, neuropsychological test scores or frequency of mood disorders or psychoses between those with and without stereotypical movements. However, compulsive behavior was noted more often in those with stereotypies (58% vs. 15%, P = 0.02). Of the 19 patients with stereotypies, three had vocal stereotypies, and three had both vocal and motor stereotypies. Of the 16 subjects with motor stereotypies, 9(56%) were appendicular and 7 (44%) were craniocervical. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society

Establishing stimulus control of vocal stereotypy displayed by young children with Autism

AbstractWe examined the vocal stereotypy of three boys who were diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Results of functional analyses indicated that each participant's vocal stereotypy was maintained by non‐social consequences. For two participants, verbal reprimands were provided contingent on vocal stereotypy in the presence of a red card (RC). For the third participant, after verbal reprimands alone did not decrease vocal stereotypy, toys were withdrawn contingent on vocal stereotypy in the presence of the RC. For all three participants, vocal stereotypy was permitted without programmed consequences the presence of a green card (GC). The results showed that vocal stereotypy decreased in the presence of the RC for all three participants; however, vocal stereotypy came under inhibitory control of the RC for only one of the three participants. The potential utility of using punishment to develop stimulus control of automatically reinforced problem behavior in academic settings is briefly discussed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

AN ANALYSIS OF VOCAL STEREOTYPY AND THERAPIST FADING

A functional analysis for a boy with Down syndrome and autism suggested that vocal stereotypy was maintained by automatic reinforcement. The analysis also showed that instructions and noncontingent attention suppressed vocal stereotypy. A treatment package consisting of noncontingent attention, contingent demands, and response cost effectively reduced vocal stereotypy. The treatment package remained effective even when noncontingent attention was removed, making the procedure easier to implement. Also, the presence of the therapist in the room with the participant was faded systematically. After completion of fading, vocal stereotypy remained low during conditions similar to the no-consequence phase of the functional analysis.

Vocal Stereotypy and Singing Behavior in Baiomyine Mice

Abstract We examined spectral features that characterize the highly stereotyped, repetitive vocalizations of New World baiomyine rodents. Although stereotyped vocal signaling, described as “song,” has been documented in Scotinomys (singing or brown mice), its occurrence was unknown in the sister taxon Baiomys (pygmy mice). We also recorded vocalizations of females, about which little information was previously available. Although examination of morphological and molecular data supports a close relationship between the 2 baiomyine genera, we identified song as a complex behavior that further underpins the monophyly of the Baiomyini. Both spectral and temporal features render these songs highly localizable, a characteristic of possible utility for courtship and other social behavior. The song of Baiomys is confined entirely to the ultrasonic spectrum, unlike that of Scotinomys, which uses a broader range of frequencies. The intensity, identity, and predictability of vocalization suggest that these songs are...

ASSESSING AND TREATING VOCAL STEREOTYPY IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM

Previous research implies that stereotypic behavior tends to be maintained by the sensory consequences produced by engaging in the response. Few investigations, however, have focused on vocal stereotypy. The current study examined the noncommunicative vocalizations of 4 children with an autism spectrum disorder. First, functional analyses were conducted in an attempt to identify the function of each child's behavior. For each of the participants, it was found that vocal stereotypy was likely not maintained by the social consequences. Following assessment, response interruption and redirection (RIRD) was implemented in an ABAB design to determine whether vocal stereotypy could be successfully redirected. RIRD involved a teacher issuing a series of vocal demands the child readily complied with during regular academic programming. Vocal demands were presented contingent on the occurrence of vocal stereotypy and were continuously presented until the child complied with three consecutively issued demands without emitting vocal stereotypy. For each child, RIRD produced levels of vocal stereotypy substantially lower than those observed in baseline. For 3 of the children, an increase in appropriate communication was also observed. The children's teachers were trained to implement RIRD. Brief follow-up probes and anecdotal information implied that the treatment had a positive impact in the natural environment.

FURTHER EVALUATION OF METHODS TO IDENTIFY MATCHED STIMULATION

The effects of preferred stimulation on the vocal stereotypy of 2 individuals were evaluated in two experiments. The results of Experiment 1 showed that (a) the vocal stereotypy of both participants persisted in the absence of social consequences, (b) 1 participant manipulated toys that did and did not produce auditory stimulation, but only sound-producing toys decreased his vocal stereotypy, and (c) only noncontingent music decreased vocal stereotypy for the other participant, but sterotypy paradoxically increased when toys were presented with music. Using a three-component multiple schedule, the results of Experiment 2 showed that the vocal stereotypy of both participants remained below preintervention levels following the removal of auditory stimulation and that 1 participant's vocal stereotypy increased following the removal of contingent reprimands. These patterns suggest that auditory stimulation functioned as an abolishing operation for vocal stereotypy and reprimands functioned as an establishing operation for vocal stereotypy. Together, the two experiments provide a method for identifying alternative stimulation that may substitute for automatically reinforced behavior.

HVC microlesions do not destabilize the vocal patterns of adult male zebra finches with prior ablation of LMAN

The songs of adult male zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) arise by an integration of activity from two neural pathways that emanate from the telencephalic nucleus HVC (proper name). One pathway descends directly from HVC to the vocal premotor nucleus RA (the robust nucleus of the arcopallium) whereas a second pathway descends from HVC into a basal ganglia circuit (the anterior forebrain pathway, AFP) that also terminates in RA. Although HVC neurons that project directly to RA outnumber those that contribute to the AFP, both populations are distributed throughout HVC. Thus, partial ablation (microlesion) of HVC should damage both pathways in a proportional manner. We report here that bilateral HVC microlesions in adult male zebra finches produce an immediate loss of song stereotypy from which birds recover, in some cases within 3 days. The contribution of the AFP to the onset of song destabilization was tested by ablating the output nucleus of this circuit (LMAN, the lateral magnocellular nucleus of the anterior nidopallium) prior to bilateral HVC microlesions. Song stereotypy was largely unaffected. Together, our findings suggest that adult vocal production involves nonproportional integration of two streams of neural activity with opposing effects on song--HVC's direct projection to RA underlies production of stereotyped song whereas the AFP seems to facilitate vocal variation. However, the rapid recovery of song in birds with HVC microlesions alone suggests the presence of dynamic corrective mechanisms that favor vocal stereotypy.

HVC microlesions do not destabilize the vocal patterns of adult male zebra finches with prior ablation of LMAN

The songs of adult male zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) arise by an integration of activity from two neural pathways that emanate from the telencephalic nucleus HVC (proper name). One pathway descends directly from HVC to the vocal premotor nucleus RA (the robust nucleus of the arcopallium) whereas a second pathway descends from HVC into a basal ganglia circuit (the anterior forebrain pathway, AFP) that also terminates in RA. Although HVC neurons that project directly to RA outnumber those that contribute to the AFP, both populations are distributed throughout HVC. Thus, partial ablation (microlesion) of HVC should damage both pathways in a proportional manner. We report here that bilateral HVC microlesions in adult male zebra finches produce an immediate loss of song stereotypy from which birds recover, in some cases within 3 days. The contribution of the AFP to the onset of song destabilization was tested by ablating the output nucleus of this circuit (LMAN, the lateral magnocellular nucleus of the anterior nidopallium) prior to bilateral HVC microlesions. Song stereotypy was largely unaffected. Together, our findings suggest that adult vocal production involves nonproportional integration of two streams of neural activity with opposing effects on song—HVC's direct projection to RA underlies production of stereotyped song whereas the AFP seems to facilitate vocal variation. However, the rapid recovery of song in birds with HVC microlesions alone suggests the presence of dynamic corrective mechanisms that favor vocal stereotypy. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 67: 205–218, 2007.

The analysis and treatment of vocal stereotypy in a child with autism

This study examined procedures for the assessment and treatment of automatically reinforced vocal stereotypy of a 6-year-old girl with autism. Stimulus assessments were conducted to identify toys that were correlated with higher rates of vocal stereotypy and toys that were not. A concurrent operants assessment identified preferred stimuli (toys that produced auditory stimulation), which were then used as reinforcers for the non-occurrence of vocal stereotypy. A reversal design was used to compare the effects of a fixed time schedule of reinforcement (FT 1-min) to differential reinforcement for the non-occurrence of behavior (DRO) to reduce vocal stereotypy. Implementation of the FT schedule revealed no effect, whereas the DRO schedule led to a reduction in the target behavior during treatment sessions and across the school day. This study adds to the body of literature supporting the identification of matched stimuli to reduce non-socially mediated problem behavior. Copyright # 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A review of social recognition in pinnipeds

A substantial amount of research has been carried out on recognition behaviour in natural popu- lations of pinnipeds. This work includes detailed anecdotal and quantitative descriptions in addition to in situ experimental tests of recognition. The goals of this review are to summarize this research, and by doing so, to point out apparent patterns of social recognition among the pinnipeds, as well as important gaps in our knowledge. Following an introduction of the topic, the review is divided into three sections: (1) descriptive evidence, (2) exper- imental evidence, and (3) patterns of recognition in pinnipeds resulting from phylogenetic, ecological and life history constraints. The descriptive evi- dence mostly pertains to recognition between motherand oVspring and includes vocal stereotypy, the use of other sensory modalities, and cases of adoption and allo-suckling. Further descriptive data include recognition among territorial males and between species. The experimental evidence is also weighted heavily towards tests of mother- oVspring recognition. Recognition between pinni- ped mothers and pups, in at least one direction (i.e., mother recognizes pup or pup recognizes mother), has been experimentally demonstrated in seven pinniped species (4 otariids and 3 phocids), but is not the rule. Recent experiments have also been completed on recognition ontogeny and salient cues, as well as demonstrating long-term recog- nition. Such results provide the basis for complex social interactions among individuals. As with descriptive evidence, methodologies are an import- ant aspect of these data. Finally, all the pinniped recognition data are synthesized with respect to the variability of intra- and interspecie c pressures aVecting the evolution of recognition behaviour.

Quantifying song bout production during zebra finch sensory-motor learning suggests a sensitive period for vocal practice

Using an event-triggered recording system, the quantity of daily song bout production was measured weekly in male zebra finches ( Taeniopygia guttata) during sensory-motor learning and at one year of age. Our aim was to ask whether the development of a stereotyped vocal pattern involves a practice-driven component. If so, we hypothesized that juvenile males learning song should sing more often than adults reciting a vocal pattern they had already learned, and that greater levels of juvenile singing should be associated with improvement in the quality of the adult song. Across the period measured (36–365 days of age), subjects showed an inverted U-shaped pattern of daily song bout production. Song bout production was lowest during subsong, with increased production associated with plastic song and song crystallization, although individual differences were large. Daily song bout production decreased in adulthood. Higher levels of song bout production during plastic song correlated with fewer sequencing errors in adult song patterns ( r 2=0.77). In contrast, quantity of singing during song crystallization showed no relationship to vocal stereotypy ( r 2=0.002). Our data suggest a sensitive period for vocal practice during zebra finch sensory-motor learning with consequences for the note-sequence fidelity of the adult vocal pattern.

A Cursing Brain? The Histories of Tourette Syndrome

A Cursing Brain? The Histories of Tourette Syndrome

The Reduction of Aberrant Vocalizations with Auditory Feedback and Resulting Collateral Behavior Change of Two Autistic Boys

The effects of auditory stimuli, provided by music played on a small portable cassette player with headphones, on the aberrant vocalizations of two autistic boys was investigated in this study. A multiple baseline design was used to assess the effectiveness of the intervention across three regularly occurring school activities for each subject. The results indicated that the intervention was effective in reducing vocal stereotypies of one subject across all activities and for the second subject, in two activities. Social validity measures confirmed the effects of the intervention, the importance of decreasing the behavior, and that the intervention itself was not stigmatizing. The data suggested that at least some stereotypies may be controlled by their sensory consequences and that an intervention need not produce negative side effects.