Motor Theory of Auditory Perception
Abstract
1.Behavioral paradigms have been developed that yield quantifiable, reliable results for testing the discriminability of two auditory stimuli (operant go-nogo) and individuals' preferences between two stimuli (two-speaker choice test). The copulation solicitation response is not reliable. 2. Zebra finches can learn to produce and discriminate variants in the timbre' of song syllables. Adult males learn a discrimination between two similar songs more quickly when one of those songs is their own. 3.Auditory responses have been recorded, measured, and cataloged in all the forebrain nuclei with connections to the song motor system. The latencies may give indications of how this auditory information is processed. 4. Deafening studies had led to the conclusion that vocal plasticity ceased at sexual maturity in 'closed-ended' song learners. This is not so: when a hearing male's song is altered by cutting the vocal motor nerves, a limited form of plasticity in production is seen. Keywords: Operant conditioning, Paradigms, Auditory stimulus, Auditory discrimination, Zebra finches.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 02, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA204951
Entities
People
- Heather E. Williams
Organizations
- Westinghouse Electric Corporation