William S. Hall, Ph.D. Professor, Department Chair Office: 1147A, Biology-Psychology 301- 405-5788 (voice)           301-405-5915 (fax) E-mail: whall@psyc.umd.edu

Current Research and Teaching Interests:

William S. Hall (Professor and Chair), received his Ph. D. from The University of Chicago in 1968. Professor Hall's research is focused on the use of animal models of communication to understand the neural basis of human language learning. His current work is on the emergence of functional auditory-vocal pathways. The overall goal is to elucidate neuroanatomical changes occurring in the forebrain of nestling budgerigars (m.undulatus) which underlie the emergence of auditory-vocal learning ability during the first six weeks of posthatching. As for human language learning, the emergence of vocal learning ability in budgerigars unfolds in 5 stages during which immature vocalizations become more complex and individually distinctive, culminating in the ability to acquire socially learned communication sounds.