Echolocating bats accumulate information from acoustic snapshots to predict auditory object motion

Abstract

Research on visual tracking of moving stimuli has contributed to our understanding of sensory-guided behaviors; however, the processes that support auditory object tracking in natural three-dimensional environments remain largely unknown. This is important, not only to diverse groups of animals, but also to humans that rely on hearing to track objects in their environment. For visually impaired individuals, hearing is paramount for auditory object tracking and navigation, and in recent years, mobility training programs for the blind include instruction on echolocation using tongue clicks. In this work, we provide conclusive demonstration that echolocating bats use predictive strategies to track moving auditory objects, which can inform future comparative work on auditory motion processing.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Nov 02, 2020
Source ID
10.1073/pnas.2011719117

Entities

People

  • Angeles Salles
  • Clarice Anna Diebold
  • Cynthia F. Moss

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • Human Frontier Science Program
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • National Science Foundation
  • Office of Naval Research Global

Tags

Readers

  • Marine Mammal Biology
  • Robotics and Automation.
  • Vision Science/Vision Psychology/Cognitive Neuroscience.