Factors influencing the salience of temporal cues in the discrimination of synthetic Japanese monkey (Macaca fuscata) coo calls

Author(s): Moody, D. B.

Journal/Book: J Exp Psychol Anim Behav Proc. 2000; 26: 750 First St NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242, USA. Amer Psychological Assoc. 261-273.

Abstract: If temporal position of a frequency inflection is the most salient communication cue in Japanese macaque smooth early and smooth late high coos, then macaques should perceive coos differing only along the early-late dimension as belonging to different classes. The perceived similarity of synthetic coos and temporally reversed variants were evaluated, using multidimensional scaling of macaque discrimination latencies. Original calls and calls temporally reversed in the frequency domain could be discriminated if the peak was near a call endpoint but not if the frequency peak in the original call was near the coo midpoint. Perceived similarity of such calls was inversely related to the amount of frequency modulation. Temporal reversals of amplitude contours were also conducted. Although macaques are quite sensitive to amplitude increments, reversal of the relatively flat amplitude contours of these calls did not affect discrimination responses.

Note: Article Le Prell CG, Univ Michigan, Kresge Hearing Res Inst 4030, 1301 E Ann St, Med Campus, Ann Arbor,MI 48109 USA

Keyword(s): SPECIES-SPECIFIC VOCALIZATIONS; FREQUENCY DISCRIMINATION; NEURAL LATERALIZATION; PEAK POSITION; MACAQUES; PERCEPTION; MULATTA; SOUNDS; FEATURES; PRIMATES

Zurück | Weiter