Biology subjects

Honing, H.

Publications and source records attributed to Honing, H..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Artoo-Detoo: What imitating a Star Wars droid reveals on allospecific vocal imitation in parrots and starlings

Vocal production learning is a widespread and remarkable phenomenon. However, the underlying mechanisms of allospecific vocal imitation are poorly understood. Parrots and corvids are well known for their imitation abilities, but imitation accuracy has not yet been studied across species in a comparative context. We compared imitation accuracy between nine parrot species and European starlings based on imitation of monophonic and multiphonic sounds, produced by the Star Wars droid R2-D2. Our results show that starlings were better at imitating multiphonic sounds than parrots. However, no difference in imitation accuracy was found between parrots and starlings when imitating monophonic sounds. The differences in imitating accuracy are likely based on a physiological difference in syrinx anatomy, rather than on perceptual or cognitive differences between starlings and parrots. Between our nine tested parrot species, we found that parrots with larger brains (e.g., African greys and amazon parrots) were less accurate at imitating monophonic sounds than smaller brained budgerigars and cockatiels. The use of citizen science in our study shows the great potential this has to expand data collection beyond traditional studies. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the evolution of communication complexity in vocal learners. Significance StatementVocal imitation is a hallmark of complex communication in animals, yet the mechanisms driving species differences remain poorly understood. By comparing vocal imitation across nine parrot species and European starlings, we demonstrate, for the first time, that differences in syrinx anatomy, rather than cognitive or perceptual capacities, underlie species-specific variation in imitation accuracy. Contrary to traditional expectations, smaller-brained parrots outperformed larger-brained species in monophonic sound imitation. These findings challenge assumptions that brain size is directly linked to imitation accuracy and offer insights into the evolution of complex communication. We used citizen science to create a uniquely large dataset of species imitating the same source, demonstrating the powerful potential of this approach to broaden research in comparative cognition and vocal learning.

animal behavior and cognition↗

bioRxiv2022

Beat processing in newborn infants cannot be explained by statistical learning based on transition probabilities

Newborn infants have been shown to extract temporal regularities from sound sequences, both in the form of learning regular sequential properties, and extracting periodicity in the input, commonly referred to as a beat. However, these two types of regularities are often indistinguishable in isochronous sequences, as both statistical learning and beat perception can be elicited by the regular alternation of accented and unaccented sounds. Here, we manipulated the isochrony of sound sequences in order to disentangle statistical learning from beat perception in sleeping newborn infants in an EEG experiment, as previously done in adults and macaque monkeys. We used a binary accented sequence that induces a beat when presented with isochronous timing, but not when presented with randomly jittered timing. We compared mismatch responses to infrequent deviants falling on either accented or unaccented (i.e., odd and even) positions. Results showed a clear difference between metrical positions in the isochronous sequence, but not in the equivalent jittered sequence. This suggests that beat processing is present in newborns. However, the current paradigm did not show effects of statistical learning, despite previous evidence for this ability in newborns. These results show that statistical learning does not explain beat processing in newborn infants. Research highlightsSleeping newborns process musical beat. Transition probabilities are not enough to explain beat perception in newborn infants. No evidence of statistical learning (based on transition probabilities) without isochronous stimulation in newborns. Results converge with previous evidence on beat perception of newborn infants.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2019

Beat-based and memory-based temporal expectations in rhythm: similar perceptual effects, different underlying mechanisms

Predicting the timing of incoming information allows the brain to optimize information processing in dynamic environments. Behaviorally, temporal expectations have been shown to facilitate processing of events at expected time points, such as sounds that coincide with the beat in musical rhythm. Yet, temporal expectations can develop based on different forms of structure in the environment, not just the regularity afforded by a musical beat. Little is still known about how different types of temporal expectations are neurally implemented and affect performance. Here, we orthogonally manipulated the periodicity and predictability of rhythmic sequences to examine the mechanisms underlying beat-based and memory-based temporal expectations, respectively. Behaviorally and using EEG, we looked at the effects of beat-based and memory-based expectations on auditory processing when rhythms were task relevant or task irrelevant. At expected time points, both beat-based and memory-based expectations facilitated target detection and led to attenuation of P1 and N1 responses, even when expectations were task-irrelevant (unattended). For beat-based expectations, we additionally found reduced target detection and enhanced N1 responses for events at unexpected time points (e.g., off-beat), regardless of the presence of memory-based expectations or task relevance. This latter finding supports the notion that periodicity selectively induces rhythmic fluctuations in neural excitability and furthermore indicates that while beat-based and memory-based expectations may similarly affect auditory processing of expected events, their underlying neural mechanisms may be different.

neuroscience↗