Lingyun Zhao, PhD

Vocal Communication in a Social World 

Vocal communication is fundamental to our daily interactions. It allows us to convey messages, maintain relationships, and coordinate actions. Even the simplest conversations involve rapid exchanges, precise timing, and continual adaptation to social context. These behaviors may appear effortless, but they rely on complex and dynamic neural processes.  

The central question of my research is how the brain controls vocal behavior during social interaction—a process that requires a combination of neural functions, such as motor control, auditory processing, social cognition, and executive functions. 

Using a non-human primate model—the marmoset monkey—my laboratory investigates the behavioral and neural principles that support flexible, context-dependent vocalizations in naturalistic settings. We employ wireless electrophysiological techniques to record and manipulate neural activity in freely moving and vocalizing marmosets, enabling the study of communication in ethologically relevant social environments. In parallel, we examine how humans control speech during real-time conversations. 

In collaboration with clinical teams, we conduct intracranial recordings in neurosurgical patients to investigate the neural dynamics underlying speech production and coordination.