Pitch perception in chinchillas (Chinchilla laniger): Stimulus generalization using rippled noise.

Shofner, W. P., Yost, W. A. and Whitmer, W. M. (2007) Pitch perception in chinchillas (Chinchilla laniger): Stimulus generalization using rippled noise. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 121(4), pp. 428-439. (doi: 10.1037/0735-7036.121.4.428) (PMID:18085927)

Abstract

Rippled noises evoke the perception of pitch in human listeners. Infinitely iterated rippled noise (IIRN) is generated when wideband noise (WBN) is delayed, attenuated, and added to the original WBN through either a positive (+) or a negative (-) feedback loop. The pitch of IIRN[+] is matched to the reciprocal of the delay, whereas the pitch of IIRN[-] for the same delay is an octave lower. Chinchillas (Chinchilla laniger) were trained to discriminate IIRN[+] with a 4-ms delay from IIRN[+] with a 2-ms delay and then tested in a stimulus generalization paradigm with IIRN[+] at delays between 2 and 4 ms. Systematic gradients in behavioral response occurred along the dimension of delay, suggesting that a perceptual dimension corresponding to pitch exists for IIRN[+]. Behavioral responses to IIRN[-] test stimuli were more variable among chinchillas, suggesting that IIRN[-] did not evoke similar pitches relative to IIRN[+]. Systematic gradients in behavioral response were observed when IIRN[-] test stimuli were presented in the context of other IIRN[-] stimuli. Thus, other perceptual cues such as timbre may dominate the pitch cues when IIRN[-] test stimuli are presented in the context of IIRN[+] stimuli.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Whitmer, Dr William
• Authors: Shofner, W. P., Yost, W. A., and Whitmer, W. M.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU
• Journal Name: Journal of Comparative Psychology
• Publisher: American Psychological Association
• ISSN: 0735-7036
• ISSN (Online): 1939-2087