Relating approach-to-target and detection tasks in animal psychoacoustics.

Citation

Sollini, J., Alves-Pinto, A., & Sumner, C. J. (2016). Relating approach-to-target and detection tasks in animal psychoacoustics. Behavioral Neuroscience, 130(4), 393-405.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/bne0000143

Abstract

Psychophysical experiments seek to measure the limits of perception. While straightforward in humans, in animals they are time consuming. Choosing an appropriate task and interpreting measurements can be challenging. We investigated the localization of high-frequency auditory signals in noise using an “approach-to-target” task in ferrets, how task performance should be interpreted in terms of perception, and how the measurements relate to other types of tasks. To establish their general ability to localize, animals were first trained to discriminate broadband noise from 12 locations. Subsequently we tested their ability to discriminate between band-limited targets at 2 or 3 more widely spaced locations, in a continuous background noise. The ability to discriminate between 3 possible locations (−90°, 0°, 90°) of a 10-kHz pure tone decreased gradually over a wide range (>30 dB) of signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). Location discrimination ability was better for wide band noise targets (0.5 and 2 octave). These results were consistent with localization ability limiting performance for pure tones. Discrimination of pure tones at 2 locations (−90/left, 90/right) was robust at positive SNRs, yielding psychometric functions which fell steeply at negative SNRs. Thresholds for discrimination were similar to previous tone-in-noise thresholds measured in ferrets using a yes/no task. Thus, using an approach-to-target task, sound “localization” in noise can reflect detectability or the ability to localize, depending on the stimulus configuration. Signal-detection-theory-based models were able to account for the results when discriminating between pure tones from 2- and 3-source locations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Unique Identifier

2016-24681-001

Title

Relating approach-to-target and detection tasks in animal psychoacoustics.

Publication Date

Aug 2016

Publication History

First Posting: May 19, 2016

Accepted: Mar 17, 2016

Revised: Mar 15, 2016

First Submitted: Jun 26, 2015

Language

English

Author Identifier

Sollini, Joseph; Alves-Pinto, Ana; Sumner, Christian J.

Email

Sumner, Christian J.: chris@ihr.mrc.ac.uk

Correspondence Address

Sumner, Christian J.: Medical Research Council Institute of Hearing Research, University Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom, NG7 2RD, chris@ihr.mrc.ac.uk

Affiliation

Sollini, Joseph: Medical Research Council Institute of Hearing Research, Nottingham, United Kingdom

Alves-Pinto, Ana: Medical Research Council Institute of Hearing Research, Nottingham, United Kingdom

Sumner, Christian J.: Medical Research Council Institute of Hearing Research, Nottingham, United Kingdom

Source

Behavioral Neuroscience, Vol 130(4), Aug 2016, 393-405.

NLM Title Abbreviation

Behav Neurosci

ISSN

1939-0084(Electronic); 0735-7044(Print)

Publisher

US: American Psychological Association

Format Covered

Electronic

Publication Type

Journal; Peer Reviewed Journal

Document Type

Journal Article

Digital Object Identifier

http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/bne0000143

Keywords

psychoacoustics; animals; localization; behavior; signal detection

Index Terms

*Acoustics; *Auditory Localization; *Auditory Stimulation; Signal Detection (Perception)

PsycINFO Classification

2520 Neuropsychology & Neurology

Population Group

Animal; Male; Female

Copyright

Holder: The Author(s)

Year: 2016

Methodology

Empirical Study; Quantitative Study

Tests and Measures

Yes/No Detection Task

Two-Location Discrimination Task

Three-Location Discrimination Task

Grant Sponsorship

Sponsor: Medical Research Council, United Kingdom
Recipient: No recipient indicated
Grant Number: U135097127

Release Date

20160519 (PsycINFO); 20160519 (PsycARTICLES)

Correction Date

20160725 (PsycINFO) ; 20160725 (PsycARTICLES)

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