Frequency-range discriminations: special and general abilities in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) and humans (Homo sapiens)

Author(s): Njegovan, M., Sturdy, C., Phillmore, L., Coyle, J., Mewhort, D.

Journal/Book: J Comp Psychol. 1998; 112: 244-58.

Abstract: The acoustic frequency ranges in birdsongs and human speech can provide important pitch cues for recognition. Zebra finches and humans were trained to sort contiguous frequencies into 3 or 8 ranges, based on associations between the ranges and reward. The 3-range task was conducted separately in 3 spectral regions. Zebra finches discriminated 3 ranges in the medium and high spectral regions faster than in the low region and discriminated 8 ranges with precision. Humans discriminated 3 ranges in all 3 spectral regions to the same modest standard and acquired only a crude discrimination of the lowest and highest of 8 ranges. The results indicate that songbirds have a special sensitivity to the pitches in conspecific songs and, relative to humans, have a remarkable general ability to sort pitches into ranges.

Keyword(s): Acoustic Stimulation. Adult. Analysis of Variance. Animal. Auditory Threshold/physiology. Communication. Concept Formation/physiology. Discrimination Learning/physiology. Female. Generalization (Psychology)/physiology. Hearing/physiology. Human. Male. Memory/physiology. Models, Neurological. Music/psychology. Neural Networks (Computer). Pitch Discrimination/physiology. Songbirds/physiology. Species Specificity. Support, Non-U.S. Gov't. Vocalization, Animal/physiology. Voice/physiology

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