Massenet Mathilde, Mathevon Nicolas, Anikin Andrey, Briefer Elodie F, Fitch W Tecumseh, Reby David
ENES Bioacoustics Research Laboratory, CRNL, CNRS, Inserm, University of Saint-Etienne, 42100 Saint-Etienne, France.
Division of Cognitive Science, Lund University, 223 62 Lund, Sweden.
Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2025 Apr 3;380(1923):20240002. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2024.0002.
Nonlinear phenomena (NLP) are acoustic irregularities that are widespread in animal and human vocal repertoires, as well as in music. These phenomena have recently attracted considerable interest but, surprisingly, have never been the subject of a comprehensive review. NLP result from irregular sound production, contribute to perceptual harshness, and have long been considered nonadaptive vocal features or by-products of sound production characterizing pathological voices. This view is beginning to change: NLP are increasingly documented in nonverbal vocalizations of healthy humans, and an impressive variety of acoustic irregularities are found in the vocalizations of nonhuman vertebrates. Indeed, evidence is accumulating that NLP have evolved to serve specific functions such as attracting listeners' attention, signalling high arousal, or communicating aggression, size, dominance, distress and/or pain. This special issue presents a selection of theoretical and empirical studies showcasing novel concepts and analysis tools to address the following key questions: How are NLP in vertebrate vocalizations defined and classified? What are their biomechanical origins? What are their communicative functions? How and why did they evolve? We also discuss the broader significance and societal implications of research on NLP for non-invasively monitoring and improving human and animal welfare.This article is part of the theme issue 'Nonlinear phenomena in vertebrate vocalizations: mechanisms and communicative functions'.
非线性现象（NLP）是广泛存在于动物和人类发声曲目以及音乐中的声学不规则现象。这些现象最近引起了相当大的关注，但令人惊讶的是，它们从未成为全面综述的主题。NLP是由不规则的声音产生导致的，会导致听觉上的刺耳感，长期以来一直被认为是病理性嗓音所特有的非适应性发声特征或发声的副产品。这种观点开始发生变化：在健康人类的非言语发声中越来越多地记录到NLP，并且在非人类脊椎动物的发声中发现了令人印象深刻的各种声学不规则现象。事实上，越来越多的证据表明，NLP已经进化到可以发挥特定功能，如吸引听众的注意力、表明高度兴奋、传达攻击性、体型、主导地位、痛苦和/或疼痛。本期特刊展示了一系列理论和实证研究，展示了新颖的概念和分析工具，以解决以下关键问题：脊椎动物发声中的NLP是如何定义和分类的？它们的生物力学起源是什么？它们的交流功能是什么？它们是如何以及为什么进化的？我们还讨论了NLP研究对于非侵入性监测和改善人类及动物福利的更广泛意义和社会影响。本文是主题为“脊椎动物发声中的非线性现象：机制与交流功能”特刊的一部分。
