“Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.” Maybe not stirring, but listen closely and you might hear some very unique chittering, like a super-high-pitched song.
Language is a universal means to communicate, found all throughout nature. Its use ranges from attracting mates to warning of nearby predators. But where in the brain does language come from and how does it work? Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) Assistant Professor Arkarup Banerjee uses “singing” mice to find out.
In this video, you’ll learn how the “music” of mice is helping us explore the parts of the human brain that drive communication. These studies may offer valuable insights into neurological conditions that affect speech, like strokes and communication disorders. And those insights could one day lead to more successful speech therapy.
Press play to hear the “music” of mice. And if you’d like to see more, watch Banerjee’s recent appearance in CSHL’s ongoing public event series, Cocktails & Chromosomes.