Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Acuity of horizontal angle discrimination by the echolocating bat,Eptesicus fuscus

  • Published:
Journal of comparative physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Echolocating bats of the speciesEptesicus fuscus were trained to discriminate between two arrays of vertical rods differing in the size of the angle in the horizontal plane separating the rods in each array. With both two-rod arrays and fiverod arrays the bats were able to distinguish angular differences as small as 1.5 °(75% correct-response threshold). The similarity of the results obtained with both array sizes shows that the angular separation of adjacent rods, and not the width of the array as a whole in the case of five-rod arrays, is the source of cues for the discrimination. Acoustic control experiments were carried out to determine whether echoes reflecting laterally from one rod to another contributed cues to the bat. The results indicate that discrimination was based on the bat's perception of the horizontal angular position of each rod relative to its neighbors, and not upon acoustic interactions among the rods.

The acuity of horizontal-angle discrimination measured at 1.5 ° may represent the acuity with which the bat's sonar system processes echoes to display one target's azimuth relative to the azimuth of another target. The results thus may represent the acuity of discrimination of target location by the binaural mechanisms of localization of sound. Although bats are considered to have heads that are too small for producing adequate interaural arrival-time cues for sound localization, the extremely broad bandwidth of FM echolocation signals and echoes may compensate for small interaural separation in bats. It is, therefore, most provocative that the observed performance ofEptesicus fuscus at horizontal-angle discrimination matches the performance to be expected if the 0.5 μs acuity of perception of the time-of-occurrence of sonar echoes measured in echo-jitter experiments can be applied to binaural echo arrivaltime perception. It cannot be ruled out that the FM bat compares the arrival time of echoes at the two ears and reconstructs in some manner the relative phase of these sounds to determine target direction in the horizontal plane.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ajrapetjantz AI, Konstantinov AI (1974) Echolocation in nature, 2nd edn. Report JPRS-63328-1 and -2. National Technical Information Service, Arlington, Va

    Google Scholar 

  • Altes RA (1978) Angle estimation and binaural processing in animal echolocation. J Acoust Soc Am 63:155–173

    Google Scholar 

  • Altes RA (1980) Detection, estimation and classification with spectrograms. J Acoust Soc Am 67:1232–1246

    Google Scholar 

  • Altes RA (1981) Echo phase perception in bat sonar? J Acoust Soc Am 69:505–508

    Google Scholar 

  • Bard C, Beroujon M, Escudié B, Hellion A, Simmons JA (1975) Performances de certains signaux sonar animaux á modulation homographique en présence d'harmoniques. CR 5ème Colloque GRETSI sur le Traitement du Signal, Nice, France, pp 393–400

  • Bard C, Munier J, Escudié B, Hellion A (1978) La réponse angulaire des interféromètres à corrélation et le système de perception binaural des chauves-souris. Acustica 40:139–154

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown CH (1982) Primate auditory localization. In: Gatehouse RW (ed) Eocalization of sound: Theory and applications. Amphora Press, Groton, Conn, pp 136–154

    Google Scholar 

  • Brugge JF, Anderson DJ, Hind JE, Rose JE (1969) Time structure of discharges in single auditory nerve fibers of the squirrel monkey in response to complex periodic sounds. J Neurophysiol 32:386–401

    Google Scholar 

  • Colburn HS, Durlach NI (1978) Models of binaural interaction. In: Carterette EC, Friedman MP (eds) Handbook of perception, vol IV, Hearing. Academic Press, New York, pp 467–518

    Google Scholar 

  • Durlach NI, Colburn HS (1978) Binaural phenomena. In: Carterette EC, Friedman MP (eds) Handbook of perception, vol IV, Hearing. Academic Press, New York, pp 365–466

    Google Scholar 

  • Erulkar SD (1972) Comparative aspects of spatial localization of sound. Physiol Rev 52:237–360

    Google Scholar 

  • Flieger E, Schnitzler H-U (1973) Obstacle avoidance ability of the bat,Rhinolophus fenumequinum, with one or both ears plugged. J Comp Physiol 82:93–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Gellermann LW (1933) Chance disorders of alternating stimuli in visual discrimination experiments. J Genetic Psychol 42:205–208

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffin DR (1958) Listening in the dark. Yale University Press, New Haven

    Google Scholar 

  • Grinnell AD (1963) The neurophysiology of audition in bats: Directional localization and binaural interaction. J Physiol (bond) 167:97–113

    Google Scholar 

  • Grinnell AD, Grinnell VS (1965) Neural correlates of vertical localization by echo-locating bats. J Physiol (Lond) 181:830–851

    Google Scholar 

  • Grinnell AD, Schnitzler H-U (1977) Directional sensitivity of echolocation in the horseshoe bat,Rhinolophus ferrumequinum. II. Behavioral directionality of hearing. J Comp Physiol 116:63–76

    Google Scholar 

  • Harnischfeger G (1980) Brainstem units of echolocating bats code binaural time differences in the microsecond range. Naturwissenschaften 67:314–315

    Google Scholar 

  • Heffner H, Masterton B (1980) Hearing in Glires: Domestic rabbit, cotton rat, feral house mouse and kangaroo rat. J Acoust Soc Am 68:1584–1599

    Google Scholar 

  • Henson OW Jr (1970) The ear and audition. In: Wimsatt WA (ed) Biology of bats. Academic Press, New York, pp 181–263

    Google Scholar 

  • Jen PH-S (1980) Coding of directional information by single neurons in the S-segment of the FM bat,Myotis lucifugus. J Exp Biol 87:203–216

    Google Scholar 

  • Knudsen EI, Blasdell GG, Konishi M (1979) Sound localization by the barn owl measured with the search coil technique. J Comp Physiol 133:1–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuhn GF (1982) Towards a model for sound localization. In: Gatehouse RW (ed) Localization of sound: theory and applications. Amphora Press, Groton, Conn, pp 51–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawrence BD, Simmons JA (1982a) Echolocation in bats: the external ear and perception of the vertical positions of targets. Science 218:481–483

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawrence BD, Simmons JA (1982b) Measurements of atmospheric attenuation at ultrasonic frequencies and the significance for echolocation by bats. J Acoust Soc Am 71:585–590

    Google Scholar 

  • Masterton B, Heffner H, Ravizza R (1969) The evolution of human hearing. J Acoust Soc Am 45:966–985

    Google Scholar 

  • Mills AW (1972) Auditory localization. In: Tobias JV (ed) Foundations of modern auditory theory, vol II. Academic Press, New York, pp 303–348

    Google Scholar 

  • Moiseff A, Konishi M (1981) Neuronal and behavioral sensitivity to binaural time differences in the owl. J Neurosci 1:40–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Morse PM (1976) Vibration and sound. Acoustical Society of America (American Institute of Physics), New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Neuweiler G (1970) Neurophysiologische Untersuchungen zum Echoortungssystem der Grossen HufeisennaseRhinolophus ferrumequinum. Z Vergl Physiol 67:273–306

    Google Scholar 

  • Novick A (1977) Acoustic orientation. In: Wimsatt WA (ed) Biology of bats, vol III. Academic Press, New York, pp 73–287

    Google Scholar 

  • Peff TC, Simmons JA (1972) Horizontal-angle resolution by echolocating bats. J Acoust Soc Am 51:2063–2065

    Google Scholar 

  • Rose JE, Brugge JF, Anderson DJ, Hind JE (1967) Phase-locked responses to low-frequency tones in single auditory nerve fibers of the squirrel monkey. J Neurophysiol 30:679–793

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlegel P (1977) Directional coding by binaural brainstem units of CF-FM bats,Rhinolophus ferrumequinum. J Comp Physiol 118:327–352

    Google Scholar 

  • Schnitzler H-U (1973) Die Echoortung der Fledermäuse und ihre hörphysiologischen Grundlagen. Fortschr Zool 21:136–189

    Google Scholar 

  • Schnitzler H-U, Henson OW (1980) Performance of airborne animal sonar systems: I. Microchiroptera. In: Busnel RG, Fish J (eds) Animal sonar systems. Plenum, New York, pp 109–181

    Google Scholar 

  • Searle CL (1982) A model of auditory localization: peripheral constraints. In: Gatehouse RW (ed) Localization of sound: theory and applications. Amphora Press, Groton, Conn, pp 42–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Shimozawa T, Suga N, Hendler P, Schuetze S (1974) Directional sensitivity of echolocation system in bats producing frequency-modulated signals. J Exp Biol 60:53–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Simmons JA (1969) Acoustic radiation patterns for the echolocating batsChilonycteris rubiginosa andEptesicus fuscus. J Acoust Soc Am 46:1054–1056

    Google Scholar 

  • Simmons JA (1973) The resolution of target range by echolocating bats. J Acoust Soc Am 54:157–173

    Google Scholar 

  • Simmons JA (1977) Localization and identification of acoustic signals, with reference to echolocation. In: Bullock TH (ed) Recognition of complex acoustic signals. Dahlem Konferenzen, Berlin, pp 239–277

    Google Scholar 

  • Simmons JA (1979) Perception of echo phase information in bat sonar. Science 204:1336–1338

    Google Scholar 

  • Simmons JA (1980) The processing of sonar echoes by bats. In: Busnel RG, Fish J (eds) Animal sonar systems. Plenum, New York, pp 695–714

    Google Scholar 

  • Simmons JA, Kick SA (1983) Interception of flying insects by bats. In: Huber F, Markl H (eds) Behavioral physiology and neuroethology: Roots and growing points. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Simmons JA, Stein RA (1980) Acoustic imaging in bat sonar: echolocation signals and the evolution of echolocation. J Comp Physiol 135:61–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Simmons JA, Vernon JA (1971) Echolocation: Discrimination of targets by the bat,Eptesicus fuscus. J Exp Zool 176:315–328

    Google Scholar 

  • Simmons JA, Fenton MB, Ferguson WR, Jutting M, Palin J (1979 a) Apparatus for research on animal ultrasonic signals. R Ont Mus Life Sci Misc Publ

  • Simmons JA, Fenton MB, O'Farrell MJ (1979b) Echolocation and pursuit of prey by bats. Science 203:16–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Skolnik MI (1962) Introduction to radar systems. McGraw-Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Suga N (1964) Single unit activity in cochlear nucleus and inferior colliculus of echolocating bats. J Physiol (Lond) 172:449–474

    Google Scholar 

  • Webster FA, Brazier OG (1965) Experimental studies on target detection, evaluation and interception by echolocating bats. T.D.R. AMRL-TR-65-172. Aerospace Medical Division, USAF Systems Command

  • Woodward PM (1964) Probability and information theory with applications to radar, 2nd edn. Pergamon Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology and Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, 97403, Eugene, Oregon, USA

    J. A. Simmons, S. A. Kick & B. D. Lawrence

  2. Department of Psychology, Washington University, 63130, St. Louis, Missouri, USA

    C. Hale

  3. Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble, and CEPHAG, F-Grenoble, France

    C. Bard

  4. Laboratoire Traitement du Signal, Institut de Chimie et Physique Industrielles, F-Lyon, France

    B. Escudié

Authors
  1. J. A. Simmons
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. A. Kick
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. B. D. Lawrence
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. C. Hale
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. C. Bard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. B. Escudié
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Simmons, J.A., Kick, S.A., Lawrence, B.D. et al. Acuity of horizontal angle discrimination by the echolocating bat,Eptesicus fuscus . J. Comp. Physiol. 153, 321–330 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00612586

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00612586

Keywords

Search

Navigation