Vocalization is essential for communication, yet how we produce diverse sounds is still not fully understood. Traditionally, vocal control has been explained as a top-down process, where the brain—particularly the cortex—controls individual muscles of the vocal tract. While this approach explains how specific muscles move, it does not explain how multiple parts of the body work together to produce flexible and complex vocal sounds. Moreover, this view has largely focused on skeletal muscles and overlooked the role of internal organs. In reality, changes in the respiratory system—such as airway conditions—can strongly affect voice, even when the muscles themselves are intact.

Our research addresses this gap by focusing on how coordination emerges across the system. We study how the brainstem integrates both skeletal and autonomic control, including regulation of internal organs like the airway, to shape vocal output. We propose that vocal diversity arises not from isolated muscle control, but from dynamic coordination between the brain, body, and autonomic systems.