scholarly journals The emotional canvas of human screams: patterns and acoustic cues in the perceptual categorization of a basic call type

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e10990
Author(s):  
Jonathan W. M. Engelberg ◽  
Jay W. Schwartz ◽  
Harold Gouzoules

Screams occur across taxonomically widespread species, typically in antipredator situations, and are strikingly similar acoustically, but in nonhuman primates, they have taken on acoustically varied forms in association with more contextually complex functions related to agonistic recruitment. Humans scream in an even broader range of contexts, but the extent to which acoustic variation allows listeners to perceive different emotional meanings remains unknown. We investigated how listeners responded to 30 contextually diverse human screams on six different emotion prompts as well as how selected acoustic cues predicted these responses. We found that acoustic variation in screams was associated with the perception of different emotions from these calls. Emotion ratings generally fell along two dimensions: one contrasting perceived anger, frustration, and pain with surprise and happiness, roughly associated with call duration and roughness, and one related to perceived fear, associated with call fundamental frequency. Listeners were more likely to rate screams highly in emotion prompts matching the source context, suggesting that some screams conveyed information about emotional context, but it is noteworthy that the analysis of screams from happiness contexts (n = 11 screams) revealed that they more often yielded higher ratings of fear. We discuss the implications of these findings for the role and evolution of nonlinguistic vocalizations in human communication, including consideration of how the expanded diversity in calls such as human screams might represent a derived function of language.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nisarg P. Desai ◽  
Pawel Fedurek ◽  
Katie E. Slocombe ◽  
Michael L. Wilson

AbstractVocal learning, the ability to voluntarily modify the acoustic structure of vocalizations based on social cues, is a fundamental feature of speech in humans (Homo sapiens). While vocal learning is common in taxa such as songbirds and whales, the vocal learning capacities of nonhuman primates appear more limited. Intriguingly, evidence for vocal learning has been reported in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), for example in the form of regional variation (‘dialects’) in the ‘pant-hoot’ calls. This suggests that some capacity for vocal learning may be an ancient feature of the Pan-Homo clade. Nonetheless, reported differences have been subtle, with inter-community variation representing only a small portion of the total acoustic variation. To gain further insights into the extent of regional variation in chimpanzee vocalizations, we performed an analysis of pant-hoots from chimpanzees in the neighboring Kasekela and Mitumba communities at Gombe National Park, Tanzania, and the geographically distant Kanyawara community at Kibale National Park, Uganda. We observed group differences only among the geographically isolated communities and did not find any differences between the neighboring communities at Gombe. Furthermore, we found differences among individuals in all communities. Hence, the variation in chimpanzee pant-hoots reflected individual differences, rather than group differences. The limited evidences for vocal learning in Pan suggest that extensive vocal learning emerged in the human lineage after the divergence from Pan.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Nielsen ◽  
Drew Rendall

Comparative perspectives on primate and human communication have been marked by two equally untenable extremes: either language is special, without significant evolutionary precedent, or it is not: it is continuous in most aspects with animal communication systems. In this article we outline fertile common ground and point towards synthetic approaches that can unify the study of human and animal communication. First, we suggest that humans have a large suite of perceptual biases that introduce a pressure for languages to be 'functionally deployable'. We suggest that human languages are shaped by this pressure, along with previously established pressures to be both learnable and compressible, and domain-general constraints like memory. Collectively, we suggest that non-arbitrary structure-function relationships are crucial for the deployment of language and communication systems more generally.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 56
Author(s):  
İrem Şahin ◽  
Ahmet Togay ◽  
Meral Atıcı

In this study, therapeutic help features of psychological counselor, therapeutic environment, views of therapeutic skills and conditions, perceptions and beliefs about competence were examined in the light of individual psychological counseling practices performed by psychological counselor candidates. The research group of the study was undergraduate students who conducts individual counseling sessions under supervision in the fall semester of the 2016-2017 academic year. The data were collected through the interview method using a semi-structured interview form. According to the results of the study; participants' perceptions of therapeutic help consist of three dimensions, namely affective, relational and product. The therapeutic environment; including physical and emotional context was addressed in two dimensions. In addition, the participants emphasised the importance of therapeutic skills, which are effective in the process of psychological counseling; such as reflection of content and emotion, minimal encouragement and binding skills. Psychological counselor candidates participating the study expressed that they generally perceive themselves insufficient in terms of therapeutic skills but they try to put on effort and get experience in using therapeutic skills. Although they mentioned they are anxious and incapacitated to use these skills, they are willing to improve their capacity and skills. The findings are discussed in the context of the literature.Extended English summary is in the end of Full Text PDF (TURKISH) file. ÖzetBu araştırmada psikolojik danışman adaylarının terapötik yardım, psikolojik danışman özellikleri, terapötik ortam, beceri ve koşullara ilişkin yeterlik algıları yürütmüş olduğu bireysel psikolojik danışma uygulamaları ışığında incelenmiştir. Çalışma grubu, 2016-2017 eğitim öğretim yılı güz yarıyılında süpervizyonlu bireysel psikolojik danışma süreci yürüten PDR son sınıf öğrencilerinden oluşmaktadır. Araştırma fenomenolojik yaklaşım kapsamında yürütülmüş nitel bir araştırmadır. Veriler, görüşme yöntemi yoluyla yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme formu kullanılarak toplanmıştır. Araştırma sonuçlarına göre; katılımcıların terapötik yardıma ilişkin algıları duyuşsal, ilişkisel ve ürün olmak üzere üç kategoriden oluşmaktadır. Terapötik ortam; fiziksel ve duygusal ortam olmak üzere iki kategoride ele alınmaktadır. Ayrıca katılımcılar psikolojik danışma sürecinde etkili olan terapötik beceriler olarak; yapılama, duygu ve içerik yansıtma, asgari düzeyde teşvik ve bağlama becerileri üzerinde durmuşlardır. Araştırmaya katılan psikolojik danışman adayları terapötik becerileri kullanmak konusunda kendilerini yetersiz ama çabalayan ve tecrübe kazanan bireyler olarak algıladıkları ve bu becerileri kullanmak konusunda kendilerini kaygılı ve eksik hissettiklerini ancak kendilerini geliştirmeye istekli olduklarını dile getirmişlerdir. Elde edilen bulgular ilgili alan yazın bağlamında tartışılmıştır


Gesture ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 5 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 41-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Pika ◽  
Katja Liebal ◽  
Josep Call ◽  
Michael Tomasello

Gestural communication of nonhuman primates may allow insight into the evolutionary scenario of human communication given the flexible use and learning of gestures as opposed to vocalizations. This paper provides an overview of the work on the gestural communication of apes with the focus on their repertoire, learning mechanisms, and the flexibility of gesture use during interactions with conspecifics. Although there is a variation between the species in the types and numbers of gestures performed, the influence of ecology, social structure and cognitive skills on their gestural repertoires is relatively restricted. As opposed to humans, apes do not use their gestures referentially nor do their gestures show the symbolic or conventionalized features of human gestural communication. However, since the gestural repertoires of apes are characterized by a high degree of individual variability and flexibility of use as opposed to their vocalizations it seems plausible that the gestures were the modality within which symbolic communication first evolved.


Gesture ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 5 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 41-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Pika ◽  
Katja Liebal ◽  
Josep Call ◽  
Michael Tomasello

Gestural communication of nonhuman primates may allow insight into the evolutionary scenario of human communication given the flexible use and learning of gestures as opposed to vocalizations. This paper provides an overview of the work on the gestural communication of apes with the focus on their repertoire, learning mechanisms, and the flexibility of gesture use during interactions with conspecifics. Although there is a variation between the species in the types and numbers of gestures performed, the influence of ecology, social structure and cognitive skills on their gestural repertoires is relatively restricted. As opposed to humans, apes do not use their gestures referentially nor do their gestures show the symbolic or conventionalized features of human gestural communication. However, since the gestural repertoires of apes are characterized by a high degree of individual variability and flexibility of use as opposed to their vocalizations it seems plausible that the gestures were the modality within which symbolic communication first evolved.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (100) ◽  
pp. 405
Author(s):  
Augusto Aguilar Calahorro

Resumen:En este artículo se analiza el régimen jurídico del derecho a la comunicación humana constitucionalizado en el artículo 20.1 a y b CE.El objetivo es analizar si en la actualidad es suficiente su redacción y desarrollo jurisprudencial para amparar las posmodernas formas de comunicación como la televisión o internet. Se comienza enmarcando la comunicación humana desde la antropología para subrayar su esencialidad para el concepto de dignidad humana. Posteriormente se observa su evolución histórica desplegándose en su doble vertiente: subjetiva, libertad frente a la injerencia del poder público; y objetiva, fundamento del pluralismo y la democracia constitucional. Se señalanalgunas contradicciones entre ambas dimensiones provocadas por la evolución de los medios de comunicación. Posteriormente se señala cómo estas contradicciones se acentúan en dos medios de comunicación contemporáneos: la televisión e internet. En el primero se observa cómo la doble dimensión objetiva y subjetiva ha derivado en una dialéctica basada en la contraposición entre lo público y lo privado, respectivamente. En el caso de internet se observa cómo se reproduce esta dialéctica, pero confundiendo los espacios público y privado, y llevando al absurdo los límites al derecho. Termina el artículo con dos conclusiones. En primer lugar, la constitucionalización del derecho a recibir y emitir ideas e informaciones no parece suficiente para enmarcar el fenómeno contemporáneo de la comunicación humana. En segundo lugar, la comunicación como elemento básico sobre el que se ha construido la dignidad humana requiere, en la actualidad, de una aproximación más antropológica o personalista al artículo 20.1 de la Constitución, como verdadero derecho preexistente. Una revalorización de su dimensión subjetiva frente a la objetiva, pues es la evolución de las formas de comunicación humana las que determinan el orden político, y no a la inversa. Una idea que parece cuadrar con su naturaleza evolutiva y la globalización de las relaciones sociopolíticas.Summary:1. Communication as the essence of human dignity: anthropology, philosophy and law. 2. Communication and constitution. 2.1 Subjective dimension of communication. 2.2 Objective dimension of communication. 3. The right to communication in the spanish constitution. 4. The right to television activity as a right to communication. 5. Internet and the right to communication. 6. Conclusions. Abstract:This article analyzes the constitutional regime of the right to human communication (Article 20.1 a and b SC). The aim is to analyze the right evolution in the light of contemporary forms of communication trying to assess whether its constitutional protection is enough. This paper starts studying from an anthropology approach human communication and its essentiality for the concept of human dignity. Subsequently, its historical evolution can be observed unfolding in its double aspect: subjective, freedom in front of the interference of the public authority; and objective, as a foundation element of pluralism and constitutional democracy. We point out some contradictions between the two dimensions caused by the evolution of the media. Later it is pointed out how these contradictions are accentuated in two contemporary media: television and internet. In the first, we observe how both objective and subjective dimension has resulted in a dialectic based on the contrast between public and private, respectively. In the case of the internet, we observe how this dialectic is reproduced, but confusing the public and private spaces, and bringing the right´s limits to the absurd. Paper ends with two conclusions. On one hand, the  Spanish constitutionalization right to receive and impart information and ideas does not seem sufficient in front of contemporary phenomenon of human communication. On the other hand, communication as the basic element on which human dignity has been built requires reading article 20 (1) of the Constitution from one more anthropological approach to, as a pre-existing right. We bet for a revaluation of its subjective versus the objective dimension, because it is the evolution of the forms of human communication that determine the political order, and not contrariwise.


2018 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alain Pe-Curto ◽  
Julien A. Deonna ◽  
David Sander
Keyword(s):  

AbstractWe characterize Doris's anti-reflectivist, collaborativist, valuational theory along two dimensions. The first dimension is socialentanglement, according to which cognition, agency, and selves are socially embedded. The second dimension isdisentanglement, the valuational element of the theory that licenses the anchoring of agency and responsibility in distinct actors. We then present an issue for the account: theproblem of bad company.


Author(s):  
R. B. Queenan ◽  
P. K. Davies

Na ß“-alumina (Na1.67Mg67Al10.33O17) is a non-stoichiometric sodium aluminate which exhibits fast ionic conduction of the Na+ ions in two dimensions. The Na+ ions can be exchanged with a variety of mono-, di-, and trivalent cations. The resulting exchanged materials also show high ionic conductivities.Considerable interest in the Na+-Nd3+-ß“-aluminas has been generated as a result of the recent observation of lasing in the pulsed and cw modes. A recent TEM investigation on a 100% exchanged Nd ß“-alumina sample found evidence for the intergrowth of two different structure types. Microdiffraction revealed an ordered phase coexisting with an apparently disordered phase, in which the cations are completely randomized in two dimensions. If an order-disorder transition is present then the cooling rates would be expected to affect the microstructures of these materials which may in turn affect the optical properties. The purpose of this work was to investigate the affect of thermal treatments upon the micro-structural and optical properties of these materials.


Author(s):  
J. Holy ◽  
G. Schatten

One of the classic limitations of light microscopy has been the fact that three dimensional biological events could only be visualized in two dimensions. Recently, this shortcoming has been overcome by combining the technologies of laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) and computer processing of microscopical data by volume rendering methods. We have employed these techniques to examine morphogenetic events characterizing early development of sea urchin embryos. Specifically, the fourth cleavage division was examined because it is at this point that the first morphological signs of cell differentiation appear, manifested in the production of macromeres and micromeres by unequally dividing vegetal blastomeres.The mitotic spindle within vegetal blastomeres undergoing unequal cleavage are highly polarized and develop specialized, flattened asters toward the micromere pole. In order to reconstruct the three-dimensional features of these spindles, both isolated spindles and intact, extracted embryos were fluorescently labeled with antibodies directed against either centrosomes or tubulin.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document