Sound localization by the bottlenose porpoise Tursiops truncatus

1975 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 569-585 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. Renaud ◽  
A. N. Popper
Keyword(s):  
Sound Localization ◽  
Tursiops Truncatus ◽  
External Auditory Meatus ◽  
Sound Sources ◽  
Low Frequencies ◽  
Lower Jaw ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Sound Detection ◽  
Vertical Sound ◽  
Support Evidence

1. Sound localization was measured behaviourally for the Atlantic bottlenose porpoise (Tursiops truncatus) using a wide range of pure tone pulses as well as clicks simulating the species echolocation click. 2. Measurements of the minimum audible angle (MAA) on the horizontal plane give localization discrimination thresholds of between 2 and 3 degrees for sounds from 20 to 90 kHz and thresholds from 2–8 to 4 degrees at 6, 10 and 100 kHz. With the azimuth of the animal changed relative to the speakers the MAAs were 1-3-1-5 degrees at an azimuth of 15 degrees and about 5 degrees for an azimuth of 30 degrees. 3. MAAs to clicks were 0-7-0-8 degrees. 4. The animal was able to do almost as well in determining the position of vertical sound sources as it could for horizontal localization. 5. The data indicate that at low frequencies the animal may have been localizing by using the region around the external auditory meatus as a detector, but at frequencies about 20 kHz it is likely that the animal was detecting sounds through the lateral sides of the lower jaw. 6. Above 20 kHz, it is likely that the animal was localizing using binaural intensity cues. 7. Our data support evidence that the lower jaw is an important channel for sound detection in Tursiops.

scholarly journals Influence of head morphology and natural postures on sound localization cues in crocodilians

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. 190423 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Papet ◽  
N. Grimault ◽  
N. Boyer ◽  
N. Mathevon
Keyword(s):  
Sound Localization ◽  
Sound Source ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Transfer Functions ◽  
Azimuthal Angle ◽  
Sound Sources ◽  
Low Frequencies ◽  
Top Predators ◽  
Head Morphology ◽  
Interaural Level Differences

As top predators, crocodilians have an acute sense of hearing that is useful for their social life and for probing their environment in hunting situations. Although previous studies suggest that crocodilians are able to localize the position of a sound source, how they do this remains largely unknown. In this study, we measured the potential monaural sound localization cues (head-related transfer functions; HRTFs) on alive animals and skulls in two situations, both mimicking natural positions: basking on the land and cruising at the interface between air and water. Binaural cues were also estimated by measuring the interaural level differences (ILDs) and the interaural time differences (ITDs). In both conditions, HRTF measurements show large spectral variations (greater than 10 dB) for high frequencies, depending on the azimuthal angle. These localization cues are influenced by head size and by the internal coupling of the ears. ITDs give reliable information regarding sound-source position for low frequencies, while ILDs are more suitable for frequencies higher than 1.5 kHz. Our results support the hypothesis that crocodilian head morphology is adapted to acquire reliable localization cues from sound sources when outside the water, but also when only a small part of their head is above the air–water interface.

scholarly journals A Mobile Sound Localization Setup

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan-Willem Wasmann ◽  
Arno Janssen ◽  
Martijn Agterberg
Keyword(s):  
Sound Localization ◽  
Target Location ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Binaural Hearing ◽  
Head Movements ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Localization Performance ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Vertical Sound ◽  
Sound Target

We present a mobile sound localization setup suitable for measuring horizontal and vertical sound localization in children and adult patients in the convenience of their own environment.In this paper, a mobile sound localization setup is described that can be used to measure a persons’ localization performance in a sophisticated way. With this mobile setup, researchers can travel to subjects, and studies are not limited by the willingness of participants to visit the clinic. In the setup, sounds are presented within a partial sphere in both the horizontal (-70o to 70o azimuth) and vertical (-35o to 40o elevation) plane. Participants are asked to indicate the perceived sound origin by pointing with a head-mounted LED. Head movements are recorded and instantly visualized (i.e. online target response plots). Depending on the research question, the setup can be adjusted for more advanced or simplified measurements, making the setup suitable for a wide range of research questions. The rationale for building this mobile setup was to test horizontal sound localization abilities (binaural hearing) and vertical sound localization abilities (monaural hearing) of children and patients who were otherwise not accessible for testing. In this setup loudspeakers are not visible and subjects are asked to indicate the perceived sound direction by a natural head-pointing response towards the perceived location. An advantage of the implemented pointing-method is the playful manner in which children are tested. They are ‘shooting’ at the perceived sound target location with a head-mounted LED and have fun while performing the test.

Separation of active and passive components of short-range stiffness of muscle

1977 ◽  
Vol 232 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Short Range ◽  
Muscle Tension ◽  
Isometric Tension ◽  
Incomplete Fusion ◽  
Low Frequencies ◽  
Passive Components ◽  
Stimulus Rate ◽  
Straight Line ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Tendon Compliance

The short-range stiffness of smoothly but submaximally contracting isometric soleus muscles of anesthetised cats was measured by applying small fast stretches. The ratio of isometric tension to stiffness was plotted against tension over a wide range of muscle lengths and stimulus rates. The results fitted a straight line well, as predicted from crossbridge theory, showing the stiffness to be a function of tension only, independent of the combination of length and stimulus rate used to generate the tension. The major deviation from this line was attributed to incomplete fusion at low frequencies of stimulation. Values believed to be tendon compliance and crossbridge tension per unit of stiffness were found from the graph, and the tendon compliance correlated with the maximum muscle tension. Shortening the tendon by attaching nearer to the muscle changed the results in a manner consistent with the theory, provided that appropriate precautions were taken against slippage.

scholarly journals THE PECULIARITIES OF THE SOUND FIELD ENERGY DECAY IN A ROOM WITH THE USE OF DIFFERENT PULSED SOUND SOURCES/GARSO LAUKO ENERGIJOS SLOPIMO PATALPOJE YPATUMAI, NAUDOJANT SKIRTINGUS IMPULSINIUS GARSO ŠALTINIUS

1999 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-140
Author(s):  
Vytautas Stauskis
Keyword(s):  
Noise Level ◽  
Sound Field ◽  
Maximum Energy ◽  
Reverberation Time ◽  
Frequency Range ◽  
Sound Sources ◽  
Low Frequencies ◽  
High Frequencies ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Field Decay

The paper deals with the differences between the energy created by four different pulsed sound sources, ie a sound gun, a start gun, a toy gun, and a hunting gun. A knowledge of the differences between the maximum energy and the minimum energy, or the signal-noise ratio, is necessary to correctly calculate the frequency dependence of reverberation time. It has been established by investigations that the maximum energy excited by the sound gun is within the frequency range of 250 to 2000 Hz. It decreases by about 28 dB at the low frequencies. The character of change in the energy created by the hunting gun differs from that of the sound gun. There is no change in the maximum energy within the frequency range of 63–100 Hz, whereas afterwards it increases with the increase in frequency but only to the limit of 2000 Hz. In the frequency range of 63–500 Hz, the energy excited by the hunting gun is lower by 15–30 dB than that of the sound gun. As frequency increases the difference is reduced and amounts to 5–10 dB. The maximum energy of the start gun is lower by 4–5 dB than that of the hunting gun in the frequency range of up to 1000 Hz, while afterwards the difference is insignificant. In the frequency range of 125–250 Hz, the maximum energy generated by the sound gun exceeds that generated by the hunting gun by 20 dB, that by the start gun by 25 dB, and that by the toy gun—by as much as 35 dB. The maximum energy emitted by it occupies a wide frequency range of 250 to 2000 Hz. Thus, the sound gun has an advantage over the other three sound sources from the point of view of maximum energy. Up until 500 Hz the character of change in the direct sound energy is similar for all types of sources. The maximum energy of direct sound is also created by the sound gun and it increases along with frequency, the maximum values being reached at 500 Hz and 1000 Hz. The maximum energy of the hunting gun in the frequency range of 125—500 Hz is lower by about 20 dB than that of the sound gun, while the maximum energy of the toy gun is lower by about 25 dB. The maximum of the direct sound energy generated by the hunting gun, the start gun and the toy gun is found at high frequencies, ie at 1000 Hz and 2000 Hz, while the sound gun generates the maximum energy at 500 Hz and 1000 Hz. Thus, the best results are obtained when the energy is emitted by the sound gun. When the sound field is generated by the sound gun, the difference between the maximum energy and the noise level is about 35 dB at 63 Hz, while the use of the hunting gun reduces the difference to about 20–22 dB. The start gun emits only small quantities of low frequencies and is not suitable for room's acoustical analysis at 63 Hz. At the frequency of 80 Hz, the difference between the maximum energy and the noise level makes up about 50 dB, when the sound field is generated by the sound gun, and about 27 dB, when it is generated by the hunting gun. When the start gun is used, the difference between the maximum signal and the noise level is as small as 20 dB, which is not sufficient to make a reverberation time analysis correctly. At the frequency of 100 Hz, the difference of about 55 dB between the maximum energy and the noise level is only achieved by the sound gun. The hunting gun, the start gun and the toy gun create the decrease of about 25 dB, which is not sufficient for the calculation of the reverberation time. At the frequency of 125 Hz, a sufficiently large difference in the sound field decay amounting to about 40 dB is created by the sound gun, the hunting gun and the start gun, though the character of the sound field curve decay of the latter is different from the former two. At 250 Hz, the sound gun produces a field decay difference of almost 60 dB, the hunting gun almost 50 dB, the start gun almost 40 dB, and the toy gun about 45 dB. At 500 Hz, the sound field decay is sufficient when any of the four sound sources is used. The energy difference created by the sound gun is as large as 70 dB, by the hunting gun 50 dB, by the start gun 52 dB, and by the toy gun 48 dB. Such energy differences are sufficient for the analysis of acoustic indicators. At the high frequencies of 1000 to 4000 Hz, all the four sound sources used, even the toy gun, produce a good difference of the sound field decay and in all cases it is possible to analyse the reverberation process at varied intervals of the sound level decay.

scholarly journals Installation for measuring the dielectric anisotropy of liquid crystals at low frequencies by the bridge method with constant displacement

2021 ◽  
Vol 1198 (1) ◽  
pp. 012006
Author(s):  
S V Kalashnikov ◽  
N A Romanov ◽  
A V Nomoev
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Crystal ◽  
Liquid Crystals ◽  
Internal Resistance ◽  
Dielectric Anisotropy ◽  
Dielectric Parameters ◽  
Low Frequencies ◽  
Offset Voltage ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Ac Current ◽  
Constant Displacement

Abstract Installation designed to measure the dielectric anisotropy in laboratory studies of liquid crystal polymer films is described. The installation operates on the principle of a balanced alternating current (AC) bridge, allowing the application of a direct external current (bias) to the liquid crystal cell. The internal resistance of the direct current (DC) source, which affects the equilibrium condition of the bridge, is compensated. The frequency of the AC current feeding the bridge and the offset voltage of the cell is regulated within a wide range, which makes it possible to study various functional dependences of the dielectric parameters of liquid crystals and their modifiers.Introduction

scholarly journals Contribution of bone-reverberated waves to sound localization of dolphins: A numerical model

Acta Acustica ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 3
Author(s):  
Aida Hejazi Nooghabi ◽  
Quentin Grimal ◽  
Anthony Herrel ◽  
Michael Reinwald ◽  
Lapo Boschi
Keyword(s):  
Wave Propagation ◽  
Numerical Model ◽  
Sound Localization ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Vertical Plane ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Bone Modeling ◽  
Sound Sources ◽  
Localization Accuracy ◽  
Future Work

We implement a new algorithm to model acoustic wave propagation through and around a dolphin skull, using the k-Wave software package [1]. The equation of motion is integrated numerically in a complex three-dimensional structure via a pseudospectral scheme which, importantly, accounts for lateral heterogeneities in the mechanical properties of bone. Modeling wave propagation in the skull of dolphins contributes to our understanding of how their sound localization and echolocation mechanisms work. Dolphins are known to be highly effective at localizing sound sources; in particular, they have been shown to be equally sensitive to changes in the elevation and azimuth of the sound source, while other studied species, e.g. humans, are much more sensitive to the latter than to the former. A laboratory experiment conducted by our team on a dry skull [2] has shown that sound reverberated in bones could possibly play an important role in enhancing localization accuracy, and it has been speculated that the dolphin sound localization system could somehow rely on the analysis of this information. We employ our new numerical model to simulate the response of the same skull used by [2] to sound sources at a wide and dense set of locations on the vertical plane. This work is the first step towards the implementation of a new tool for modeling source (echo)location in dolphins; in future work, this will allow us to effectively explore a wide variety of emitted signals and anatomical features.

Evaluation of a Wide Range of AmplitudeFrequency Responses for the Hearing Impaired

1995 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 211-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald A. van Buuren ◽  
Joost M. Festen ◽  
Reinier Plomp
Keyword(s):  
Frequency Spectrum ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Finite Impulse Response ◽  
Sound Quality ◽  
Average Frequency ◽  
Frequency Spectra ◽  
Low Frequencies ◽  
Speech Reception ◽  
Wide Range

The long-term average frequency spectrum of speech was modified to 25 target frequency spectra in order to determine the effect of each of these spectra on speech intelligibility in noise and on sound quality. Speech intelligibility was evaluated using the test as developed by Plomp and Mimpen (1979), whereas sound quality was examined through judgments of loudness, sharpness, clearness, and pleasantness of speech fragments. Subjects had different degrees of sensorineural hearing loss and sloping audiograms, but not all of them were hearing aid users. The 25 frequency spectra were defined such that the entire dynamic range of each listener, from dB above threshold to 5 dB below UCL, was covered. Frequency shaping of the speech was carried out on-line by means of Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filters. The tests on speech reception in noise indicated that the Speech-Reception Thresholds (SRTs) did not differ significantly for the majority of spectra. Spectra with high levels, especially at low frequencies (probably causing significant upward spread of masking), and also those with steep negative slopes resulted in significantly higher SRTs. Sound quality judgments led to conclusions virtually identical to those from the SRT data: frequency spectra with an unacceptably low sound quality were in most of the cases significantly worse on the SRT test as well. Because the SRT did not vary significantly among the majority of frequency spectra, it was concluded that a wide range of spectra between the threshold and UCL levels of listeners with hearing losses is suitable for the presentation of speech energy. This is very useful in everyday listening, where the frequency spectrum of speech may vary considerably.

PIV Analysis of Dynamic Velocity Profiles in Non-Newtonian Drilling Fluids Exposed to Oscillatory Motion

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maduranga Amaratunga ◽  
Roar Nybø ◽  
Rune W. Time
Keyword(s):  
Low Frequency ◽  
Velocity Profiles ◽  
Liquid Column ◽  
Oscillatory Motion ◽  
Velocity Shear ◽  
Drilling Fluids ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Low Frequencies ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Dynamic Velocity

Drilling fluids experience a wide range of shear rates and oscillatory motion while circulating through the well and also during the operations for solids control. Therefore, it is important to investigate the influence of oscillatory fields on the velocity profiles, shear rate and resulting rheological condition of non-Newtonian polymers, which are additives in drilling fluids. In this paper, we present the dynamic velocity profiles within both Newtonian (deionized water) and non-Newtonian liquids (Polyanionic Cellulose – PAC) exposed to oscillatory motion. A 15 cm × 15 cm square cross-sectional liquid column was oscillated horizontally with very low frequencies (0.75–1.75 Hz) using a laboratory made oscillating table. The dynamic velocity profiles at the bulk of the oscillating liquid column were visualized by the Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) method, where the motion of fluid is optically visualized using light scattering “seeding” particles. Increased frequency of oscillations lead to different dynamic patterns and ranges of velocity-shear magnitudes. The experiments are part of a comprehensive study aimed at investigating the influence of low frequency oscillations on particle settling in non-Newtonian drilling fluids. It is discussed, how such motion imposed on polymeric liquids influences both flow dynamics as well as local settling velocities of cuttings particles.

scholarly journals The frequency of cortical microstimulation shapes artificial touch

2019 ◽  
Vol 117 (2) ◽  
pp. 1191-1200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thierri Callier ◽  
Nathan W. Brantly ◽  
Attilio Caravelli ◽  
Sliman J. Bensmaia
Keyword(s):  
Neural Coding ◽  
Sensory Quality ◽  
Narrow Range ◽  
Low Frequencies ◽  
Pulse Trains ◽  
Sensation Magnitude ◽  
Frequency Judgments ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Tactile Sensations

Intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) of the somatosensory cortex evokes vivid tactile sensations and can be used to convey sensory feedback from brain-controlled bionic hands. Changes in ICMS frequency lead to changes in the resulting sensation, but the discriminability of frequency has only been investigated over a narrow range of low frequencies. Furthermore, the sensory correlates of changes in ICMS frequency remain poorly understood. Specifically, it remains to be elucidated whether changes in frequency only modulate sensation magnitude—as do changes in amplitude—or whether they also modulate the quality of the sensation. To fill these gaps, we trained monkeys to discriminate the frequency of ICMS pulse trains over a wide range of frequencies (from 10 to 400 Hz). ICMS amplitude also varied across stimuli to dissociate sensation magnitude from ICMS frequency and ensure that animals could not make frequency judgments based on magnitude. We found that animals could consistently discriminate ICMS frequency up to ∼200 Hz but that the sensory correlates of frequency were highly electrode dependent: On some electrodes, changes in frequency were perceptually distinguishable from changes in amplitude—seemingly giving rise to a change in sensory quality; on others, they were not. We discuss the implications of our findings for neural coding and for brain-controlled bionic hands.

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