Auditory duration discrimination in Old World monkeys (Macaca, Cercopithecus) and humans.

J M Sinnott; M J Owren; M R Petersen

doi:10.1121/1.395447

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Auditory duration discrimination in Old World monkeys (Macaca, Cercopithecus) and humans.

J M Sinnott·M J Owren·M R Petersen

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Abstract

Auditory duration DLs at 2.0 kHz were measured in Old World monkeys (Macaca, Cercopithecus) and humans using a go, no-go repeating standard AX procedure and positive reinforcement operant conditioning techniques. For a 200-ms standard, monkey DLs were 45-125 ms, compared to 15-27 ms for humans. Weber fractions (delta T/T) for all species were smallest at standard durations of 200-400 ms and increased as standard duration decreased to 25 ms. Varying intensity from 30-70 dB SPL had only minor effects on DLs, except at the lowest levels tested, where DLs were elevated slightly. Monkeys had difficulty discriminating duration decrements, in contrast to humans. Results are discussed in relation to other comparative psychoacoustic data and primate vocal communication, including human speech.

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Animal Communication Animals Cercopithecus Differential Threshold Humans Macaca Psychoacoustics Species Specificity Time Factors Comparative Study Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

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J M Sinnott, M J Owren, M R Petersen. 1987. Auditory duration discrimination in Old World monkeys (Macaca, Cercopithecus) and humans.. https://doi.org/10.1121/1.395447

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