Specializations of the auditory system for the analysis of natural sounds

摘要: Although the function of auditory system is to analyze and recognize natural sounds, it often probed with artificial sounds which differ greatly from animals are exposed in their habitats (Merzenich et al., 1975; Middlebrooks 1980; Phillips Irvine, 1981; Phillips, 1988; Schreiner Mendelson, 1990; Kelly, 1992; Sutter, 1992). It has been argued past that order understand system, necessary probe meaningful (Suga, This approach led for example detailed understanding bat echolocation (O’Neill Suga 1979; Schuller Radtke, Dear 1993). However, when using this study nonspecialized mammals such as ferrets, cats monkeys, not clear what characterizes class sounds. There a heavy emphasis on use single animal vocalizations, both species-specific (Wollberg Newman, 1972; Newman Wollberg, 1973; Sovijarvi, Glass 1983; Yeshurun 1985; Steinschneider Pelleg-Toiba 1991). These obviously important, but they only analyzed by system. Clean vocalizations may fact be relatively rare environment. They almost invariably appear against background composed mixture other same species, different or produced non-animal sources. Unpublished observations our lab suggest response vocalization modified acoustic background.