A cross-species framework for classifying sound-movement couplings

Sound and movement are entangled in animal communication. This is obviously true in the case of sound-constituting vibratory movements of biological structures which generate acoustic waves. A little less obvious is that other moving structures produce the energy required to sustain these vibrations. In many species, the respiratory system moves to generate the expiratory flow which powers the sound-constituting movements (sound-powering movements). The sound may acquire additional structure via upper tract movements, such as articulatory movements or head raising (sound-filtering movements). Some movements are not necessary for sound production, but when produced, impinge on the sound-producing process due to weak biomechanical coupling with body parts (e.g., respiratory system) that are necessary for sound production (sound-impinging movements). Animals also produce sounds contingent with movement, requiring neuro-physiological control regimes allowing to flexibly couple movements to a produced sound, or coupling movements to a perceived external sound (sound-contingent movement). Here, we compare and classify the variety of ways sound and movements are coupled in animal communication; our proposed framework should help structure previous and future studies on this topic. •Sound-constituting movements include actions that generate acoustic waves through vibrations.•Sound-powering movements include actions that provide the energy for these vibrations.•Sound-filtering movements include actions that alter sound through articulatory movements.•Sound-impinging movements include actions that influence 2–3–4 via mechanical coupling.•Sound-contingent movements include actions that link movements to externally and internally produced sounds, without or with little mechanical necessity.