What do mammals have to say about the neurobiology of acoustic communication?

Auditory communication enables animals, including humans, to convey critical information about threats, resources, mating opportunities, and social context. Comparative approaches can bridge gaps across taxa and illuminate neural mechanisms underlying this complex behavior. This article briefly reviews classical insights from songbirds and highlights emerging mammalian models—especially mice and bats—that are advancing our understanding of acoustic communication. We emphasize neural circuits for vocal production and processing, the role of social context and experience, and new opportunities afforded by modern genetic and molecular tools.