Two measures of temporal resolution in brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater). 2012

Megan D Gall, and Kenneth S Henry, and Jeffrey R Lucas
Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. mgall@purdue.edu

Studies of auditory temporal resolution in birds have traditionally examined processing capabilities by assessing behavioral discrimination of sounds varying in temporal structure. Here, temporal resolution of the brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) was measured using two auditory evoked potential (AEP)-based methods: auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) to paired clicks and envelope following responses (EFRs) to amplitude-modulated tones. The basic patterns observed in cowbirds were similar to those found in other songbird species, suggesting similar temporal processing capabilities. The amplitude of the ABR to the second click was less than that of the first click at inter-click intervals less than 10 ms, and decreased to 30% at an interval of 1 ms. EFR amplitude was generally greatest at modulation frequencies from 335 to 635 Hz and decreased at higher and lower modulation frequencies. Compared to data from terrestrial mammals these results support recent behavioral findings of enhanced temporal resolution in birds. General agreement between these AEP results and behaviorally based studies suggests that AEPs can provide a useful assessment of temporal resolution in wild bird species.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D011930 Reaction Time The time from the onset of a stimulus until a response is observed. Response Latency,Response Speed,Response Time,Latency, Response,Reaction Times,Response Latencies,Response Times,Speed, Response,Speeds, Response
D005260 Female Females
D000161 Acoustic Stimulation Use of sound to elicit a response in the nervous system. Auditory Stimulation,Stimulation, Acoustic,Stimulation, Auditory
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012727 Sex Characteristics Those characteristics that distinguish one SEX from the other. The primary sex characteristics are the OVARIES and TESTES and their related hormones. Secondary sex characteristics are those which are masculine or feminine but not directly related to reproduction. Gender Characteristics,Gender Differences,Gender Dimorphism,Sex Differences,Sex Dimorphism,Sexual Dichromatism,Sexual Dimorphism,Characteristic, Gender,Characteristic, Sex,Dichromatism, Sexual,Dichromatisms, Sexual,Difference, Sex,Dimorphism, Gender,Dimorphism, Sex,Dimorphism, Sexual,Gender Characteristic,Gender Difference,Gender Dimorphisms,Sex Characteristic,Sex Difference,Sex Dimorphisms,Sexual Dichromatisms,Sexual Dimorphisms
D013997 Time Factors Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations. Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor
D016057 Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem Electrical waves in the CEREBRAL CORTEX generated by BRAIN STEM structures in response to auditory click stimuli. These are found to be abnormal in many patients with CEREBELLOPONTINE ANGLE lesions, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, or other DEMYELINATING DISEASES. Acoustic Evoked Brain Stem Potentials,Auditory Brain Stem Evoked Responses,Brain Stem Auditory Evoked Potentials,Evoked Responses, Auditory, Brain Stem,Acoustic Evoked Brain Stem Potential,Acoustic Evoked Brainstem Potential,Acoustic Evoked Brainstem Potentials,Auditory Brain Stem Evoked Response,Auditory Brain Stem Response,Auditory Brain Stem Responses,Auditory Brainstem Evoked Response,Auditory Brainstem Evoked Responses,Auditory Brainstem Responses,Brain Stem Auditory Evoked Potential,Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potential,Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials,Evoked Potential, Auditory, Brainstem,Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brainstem,Evoked Response, Auditory, Brain Stem,Evoked Response, Auditory, Brainstem,Evoked Responses, Auditory, Brainstem,Auditory Brainstem Response,Brainstem Response, Auditory,Brainstem Responses, Auditory,Response, Auditory Brainstem,Responses, Auditory Brainstem
D020308 Songbirds PASSERIFORMES of the suborder, Oscines, in which the flexor tendons of the toes are separate, and the lower syrinx has 4 to 9 pairs of tensor muscles inserted at both ends of the tracheal half rings. They include many commonly recognized birds such as CROWS; FINCHES; robins; SPARROWS; and SWALLOWS. Eremophila alpestris,Flycatchers,Horned Lark,Oscines,Robins,Thrushes,Turdidae,Wrens,Troglodytidae,Troglodytinae,Warblers,Flycatcher,Horned Larks,Lark, Horned,Larks, Horned,Oscine,Robin,Songbird,Warbler,Wren

Related Publications

Megan D Gall, and Kenneth S Henry, and Jeffrey R Lucas
August 2006, Journal of comparative psychology (Washington, D.C. : 1983),
Megan D Gall, and Kenneth S Henry, and Jeffrey R Lucas
August 2010, Journal of comparative physiology. A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology,
Megan D Gall, and Kenneth S Henry, and Jeffrey R Lucas
January 2018, PloS one,
Megan D Gall, and Kenneth S Henry, and Jeffrey R Lucas
December 2013, Avian diseases,
Megan D Gall, and Kenneth S Henry, and Jeffrey R Lucas
September 2002, Animal cognition,
Megan D Gall, and Kenneth S Henry, and Jeffrey R Lucas
January 2005, Oecologia,
Megan D Gall, and Kenneth S Henry, and Jeffrey R Lucas
November 2008, Journal of comparative psychology (Washington, D.C. : 1983),
Megan D Gall, and Kenneth S Henry, and Jeffrey R Lucas
May 2008, Veterinary parasitology,
Megan D Gall, and Kenneth S Henry, and Jeffrey R Lucas
February 2004, Learning & behavior,
Megan D Gall, and Kenneth S Henry, and Jeffrey R Lucas
June 1994, Journal of comparative psychology (Washington, D.C. : 1983),
Copied contents to your clipboard!