Mistuning detection performance of ferrets in a go/no-go task

J Acoust Soc Am. 2016 Jun;139(6):EL246. doi: 10.1121/1.4954378.

Abstract

The harmonic structure of sounds is an important grouping cue in auditory scene analysis. The ability of ferrets to detect mistuned harmonics was measured using a go/no-go task paradigm. Psychometric functions plotting sensitivity as a function of degree of mistuning were used to evaluate behavioral performance using signal detection theory. The mean (± standard error of the mean) threshold for mistuning detection was 0.8 ± 0.1 Hz, with sensitivity indices and reaction times depending on the degree of mistuning. These data provide a basis for investigation of the neural basis for the perception of complex sounds in ferrets, an increasingly used animal model in auditory research.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acoustic Stimulation
  • Animals
  • Auditory Pathways / physiology
  • Auditory Perception*
  • Behavior, Animal*
  • Cues*
  • Female
  • Ferrets / physiology
  • Ferrets / psychology*
  • Motor Activity*
  • Psychoacoustics
  • Reaction Time
  • Signal Detection, Psychological*
  • Time Factors