Document Detail


Detecting modulated signals in modulated noise: (I) behavioural auditory thresholds in a songbird.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  17897400     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Most signals from the auditory world have temporal patterns of amplitude modulation that either emanate from the signal source or result from environmental interference (e.g. air turbulence). To investigate mechanisms associated with the segregation and processing of amplitude-modulated signals, we trained European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) to detect a signal noise band embedded in several flanking noise bands (FBs). We manipulated the envelope correlation between the signal and FBs, the onset synchrony between signal and FBs (0 or100 ms), signal duration (60 or 400 ms) and the spectrum level of the FBs (15 or 50 dB). The lowest signal-detection thresholds were found when the envelopes of the FBs were correlated with each other but different from the signal envelope (the 'co-uncorrelated' condition). Detection thresholds were on average 7 dB higher when both the signal and the FBs had correlated envelopes (the 'all correlated' condition). Thresholds were even higher when the envelopes of all noise bands were independent (the 'all uncorrelated' condition). The difference in detection thresholds between the co-uncorrelated and the all correlated conditions is termed 'comodulation detection difference' (CDD). Differences in signal duration and masker level had significant effects on detection threshold, but not on CDD magnitudes; differences in onset synchrony had no effects. We compare data from starlings with those from previous psychoacoustic studies of humans, and discuss possible mechanisms on which these perceptual effects may rely. Our behavioural data are the reference for a companion study investigating CDD at the neuronal level of the starling [M.A. Bee et al. (2007) Eur. J. Neurosci., 26, 1979-1994].
Authors:
Ulrike Langemann; Georg M Klump
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The European journal of neuroscience     Volume:  26     ISSN:  0953-816X     ISO Abbreviation:  Eur. J. Neurosci.     Publication Date:  2007 Oct 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2007-09-27     Completed Date:  2008-01-29     Revised Date:  2008-11-21    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8918110     Medline TA:  Eur J Neurosci     Country:  France    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1969-78     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Institut für Biologie und Umweltwissenschaften, Fakultät V, Universität Oldenburg, Carl von Ossietzky Str. 9-11, D-26129 Oldenburg, Germany. ulrike.langemann@uni-oldenburg.de
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Acoustic Stimulation / methods
Analysis of Variance
Animals
Attention*
Auditory Threshold / physiology*
Behavior, Animal
Choice Behavior / physiology
Differential Threshold / physiology
Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
Noise*
Perceptual Masking
Reaction Time / physiology
Signal Detection, Psychological / physiology*
Songbirds / physiology*

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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