Rendezvous with sperm whales for biological observations is made challenging by their
prolonged dive patterns. Here, we propose an algorithmic framework that codevelops …

Sperm whale society is structured into clans that are primarily distinguished by vocal
dialects, which may be symbolic markers of clan identity. However, clans also differ in non …

Multimodal imitation of actions, gestures and vocal production is a hallmark of the evolution
of human communication, as both, vocal learning and visual-gestural imitation, were crucial …

Human communities teem with a variety of social norms. In order to change unjust and
harmful social norms, it is crucial to identify the psychological processes that give rise to …

Rhythmicity in the millisecond to second range is a fundamental building block of
communication and coordinated movement. But how widespread are rhythmic capacities …

Vocal communication systems in humans and other animals experience selection for
efficiency—optimizing the benefits they convey relative to the costs of producing them. Two …

Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) are social mega-predators who form stable
matrilineal units that often associate within a larger vocal clan. Clan membership is defined …

Culture (information or behavior acquired by social learning and shared by members of a
community) is an inheritance system that that can contribute to the designation of …

While rhythm can facilitate and enhance many aspects of behavior, its evolutionary trajectory
in vocal communication systems remains enigmatic. We can trace evolutionary processes by …

I submit the need to establish a comparative study of societies, namely groups beyond a
simple, immediate family that have the potential to endure for generations, whose …