Dr. Erich Jarvis: The Neuroscience of Speech, Language & Music | Episode 87

Huberman Lab

Scicomm Media

Science, Health & Fitness, Life Sciences

4.8 • 26.2K Ratings

🗓️ 29 August 2022

⏱️ 114 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

My guest this episode is Dr. Erich Jarvis, PhD—Professor and the Head of the Laboratory of Neurogenetics of Language at Rockefeller University and Investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). Dr. Jarvis’ research spans the molecular and genetic mechanisms of vocal communication, comparative genomics of speech and language across species and the relationship between speech, language and movement. We discuss the unique ability of humans (and certain animal species) to learn and communicate using complex language, including verbal speech production and the ability to interpret both written and spoken language. We also discuss the connections between language, singing and dance and why song may have evolved before language. Dr. Jarvis also explains some of the underlying biological and genetic components of stutter/speech disorders, non-verbal communication, why it's easiest to learn a language as a child and how individuals can learn multiple languages at any age. This episode ought to be of interest to everyone interested in the origins of human speech, language, music and culture and how newer technology, such as social media and texting, change our brains. Thank you to our sponsors AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman InsideTracker: https://insidetracker.com/huberman Maui Nui: https://mauinuivenison.com/huberman Thesis: https://takethesis.com/huberman Supplements from Momentous https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com Timestamps (00:00:00) Dr. Erich Jarvis & Vocal Communication (00:03:43) Momentous Supplements (00:04:36) InsideTracker, ROKA, LMNT (00:08:01) Speech vs. Language, Is There a Difference? (00:10:55) Animal Communication, Hand Gestures & Language (00:15:25) Vocalization & Innate Language, Evolution of Modern Language (00:21:10) Humans & Songbirds, Critical Periods, Genetics, Speech Disorders (00:27:11) Innate Predisposition to Learn Language, Cultural Hybridization (00:31:34) Genes for Speech & Language (00:35:49) Learning New or Multiple Languages, Critical Periods, Phonemes (00:41:39) AG1 (Athletic Greens) (00:42:52) Semantic vs. Effective Communication, Emotion, Singing (00:47:32) Singing, Link Between Dancing & Vocal Learning (00:52:55) Motor Theory of Vocal Learning, Dance (00:55:03) Music & Dance, Emotional Bonding, Genetic Predispositions (01:04:11) Facial Expressions & Language, Innate Expressions (01:09:35) Reading & Writing (01:15:13) Writing by Hand vs. Typing, Thoughts & Writing (01:20:58) Stutter, Neurogenetics, Overcome Stutter, Conversations (01:26:58) Modern Language Evolution: Texting, Social Media & the Future (01:36:26) Movement: The Link to Cognitive Growth (01:40:21) Comparative Genomics, Earth Biogenome Project, Genome Ark, Conservation (01:48:24) Evolution of Skin & Fur Color (01:51:22) Dr. Erich Jarvis, Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Momentous Supplements, AG1 (Athletic Greens), Instagram, Twitter Neural Network Newsletter, Huberman Lab Clips Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac Disclaimer

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to the Uberman Lab podcast where we discuss science and science-based tools for everyday life.
0:08.7	I'm Andrew Uberman and I'm a professor of neurobiology and
0:12.3	Ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine. Today my guest is Dr. Eric Jarvis.
0:17.5	Dr. Jarvis is a professor at the Rockefeller University in New York City and his laboratory studies the
0:23.7	neurobiology of vocal learning, language, speech disorders and remarkably the relationship between language,
0:30.9	music and movement in particular dance. His work spans from
0:36.4	genomics, so the very genes that make up our genome and the genomes of other species that speak and have language such as
0:44.9	songbirds and parrots, all the way up to neural circuits. That is the connections in the brain and body that govern our ability to learn and generate
0:53.1	specific sounds and movements coordinated with those sounds including hand movements and
0:59.1	all the way up to cognition. That is our ability to think in specific ways based on what we are saying and the way that we comprehend what other people are saying,
1:08.8	singing and doing. As you'll soon see, I was immediately transfixed and
1:15.0	absolutely enchanted by Dr. Jarvis' description of his work and the ways that it impacts all the various aspects of our lives.
1:21.9	For instance, I learned from Dr. Jarvis that as we read, we are generating very low level of
1:28.9	motor activity in our throat. That is, we are speaking the words that we are reading
1:33.9	at a level below the perception of sound or our own perception of those words.
1:38.9	But if one were to put an amplifier or to measure the
1:42.5	firing of those muscles in our vocal cords, we'd find that as we're reading information, we are actually speaking that information.
1:49.1	And as I learned and you'll soon learn, there's a direct link between those species in the world that have song and movement,
1:57.1	which many of us would associate with dance and our ability to learn and generate complex language.
2:03.2	So for people with speech disorders like stutter or for people who are interested in
2:08.5	multiple language learning, bilingual, trilingual, etc.
2:11.3	And frankly, for anyone who is interested in how we communicate through words written or spoken,
	...

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