Sound source localization in noise: Open-loop and closed-loop tests with Cope’s gray treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis)

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Sound source localization in noise: Open-loop and closed-loop tests with Cope’s gray treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) Michael S. Caldwell1 and Mark A. Bee1, 2* 1 University of Minnesota, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, United States 2 University of Minnesota, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, United States At breeding choruses, female frogs must assess and locate a calling male among a background of competing sounds from other signalers and abiotic sources. In many ways, this task is analogous to the human 'cocktail party problem', where a partygoer struggles to follow the speech of a single interlocutor among many noisy guests. In masking noise, many animals show increased response thresholds and poorer performance in sound discrimination tasks, which potentially result in increased exposure to predators, increased energy expenditure, and selection of low-quality mates. It is often suggested that these effects are due, in part, to impaired sound localization in noise. While studies of human subjects demonstrate clear effects of masking noise on sound localization abilities, we know much less about how noise affects source localization in non-human (specifically, non-mammalian) animal models. Here, we report results from a study of sound source localization in frogs. In contrast to mammalian ears, frog ears are coupled through wide and open Eustachian tubes, making them inherently directional pressure-difference receivers. Using behavioral phonotaxis tests, we investigated the effects of masking noise, as well as noise level and signal level, on the localization of male mating calls by females of Cope’s gray treefrog in both open-loop and closed-loop listening conditions. Open-loop conditions assessed the fundamental localization acuity of the frog's auditory system; closed-loop conditions examined the frog's ability to use behavioral tactics to home in on a sound source or to improve localization by integrating information over time. By studying constraints faced by frogs localizing sounds in a complex acoustic environment, as well as adaptations for overcoming these challenges, we hope to uncover biologically diverse solutions to common problems of acoustic communication in noisy environments. Acknowledgements We thank Nate Buerkle for help testing frogs. This work is supported by NIDCD R01 5R01DC009582. Keywords: acoustic communication, chorus, closed-loop, cocktail party problem, Frog, open-loop, Sound Localization Conference: Tenth International Congress of Neuroethology, College Park. Maryland USA, United States, 5 Aug - 10 Aug, 2012. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation (see alternatives below as well) Topic: Communication Citation: Caldwell MS and Bee MA (2012). Sound source localization in noise: Open-loop and closed-loop tests with Cope’s gray treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis). Conference Abstract: Tenth International Congress of Neuroethology. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnbeh.2012.27.00181 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 28 Apr 2012; Published Online: 07 Jul 2012. * Correspondence: Dr. Mark A Bee, University of Minnesota, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, St. Paul, United States, mbee@umn.edu Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Michael S Caldwell Mark A Bee Google Michael S Caldwell Mark A Bee Google Scholar Michael S Caldwell Mark A Bee PubMed Michael S Caldwell Mark A Bee Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.