Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40176521›Full record

ArticlePhilosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences2025

Nonlinear phenomena in mammalian vocal communication: an introduction and scoping review.

Jen Muir, Christian T Herbst, Joseph E Hawes, Thomas O'Mahoney, Jacob C Dunn

Abstract readScoping Review
In one paragraph

Article in Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Nonlinear phenomena in vertebrate vocalizations: mechanisms and communicative functions.Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences · 2025
    Article
  3. Applying nonlinear dynamics to the voice: a historical perspective.Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences · 2025
    Review
  4. Review
  5. Nonlinear phenomena in mammalian vocal communication: an introduction and scoping review.Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences · 2025
    Article
  6. 'Monkey yodels'-frequency jumps in New World monkey vocalizations greatly surpass human vocal register transitions.Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences · 2025
    Article
  7. How to analyse and manipulate nonlinear phenomena in voice recordings.Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences · 2025
    Review
  8. Acoustic context and dynamics of nonlinear phenomena in mammalian calls: the case of puppy whines.Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences · 2025
    Article
  9. Application of nonlinear dynamics theory to understanding normal and pathologic voices in humans.Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences · 2025
    Review
  10. Exploring nonlinear phenomena in animal vocalizations through oscillator theory.Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences · 2025
    Review
  11. Transitions and tricks: nonlinear phenomena in the avian voice.Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences · 2025
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Jen MuirBehavioural Ecology Research Group, School of Life Science, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK.
Christian T HerbstDepartment of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna 1030, Austria.ORCID 0000-0001-9095-3953
Joseph E HawesInstitute of Science and Environment, University of Cumbria, Ambleside, Cumbria LA22 9BB, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-0053-2018
Thomas O'MahoneyBehavioural Ecology Research Group, School of Life Science, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK.
Jacob C DunnBehavioural Ecology Research Group, School of Life Science, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-3487-6513

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Nonlinear phenomena (NLP) are common elements of mammalian vocalizations. Resulting from irregular sound production, they contribute to perceived harshness and are often present in calls conveying urgency or arousal. Initially dismissed as by-products of vocal production, NLP are increasingly recognized for their adaptive potential. However, NLP have never been the subject of a comprehensive review across vertebrate taxa. Here, we introduce NLP and examine developments in NLP studies in mammals. We found 220 papers published between 1962 and 2023, with publication rates increasing with time. The studies covered a wide range of taxonomic groups but were dominated by artiodactyls, carnivores, bats, rodents and primates. Tinbergen's questions offer a framework for future investigations, highlighting that while much research has been conducted on adaptive function, our understanding is still lacking in terms of ontogeny, mechanisms and evolution. The existing literature is a testimony to the importance of NLP in animal vocalizations. With the use of novel tools for analysis and playback studies, NLP research can become more cohesive and impactful, fostering better understanding among researchers. We look forward to a new age of NLP research, which we anticipate will lead to a paradigm shift in our understanding of vocal communication in mammals.This article is part of the theme issue 'Nonlinear phenomena in vertebrate vocalizations: mechanisms and communicative functions'.

Indexed as

MammalsNonlinear DynamicsVocalization, AnimalAnimalsbioacousticsbiphonationchaosfrequency jumpsubharmonicsvocal production

Identifiers

PMID40176521
PMCPMC11966168

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.