scholarly journals Signaller: receiver coordination and the timing of communication in Amazonian birds

2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 651-654 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A Luther

The efficacy of communication relies on the detection of signals against background noise. Some species are known to alter the timing of vocalizations to avoid acoustic interference from similar signals of other species, but nothing is known about the possibility of coordinated adjustments in the timing of receivers' attention. I examined the possibility that co-occurring species might respond as well as vocalize at different times in a diverse tropical avifauna by presenting playbacks of recordings to territorial birds at typical and atypical times for singing during the dawn chorus. The results show that co-occurring species of birds in a diverse avifauna partition the timing of both production and response in a way that would reduce acoustic interference between species.

2006 ◽  
Vol 06 (04) ◽  
pp. L339-L347 ◽  
Author(s):  
MICHAEL BUSCHERMÖHLE ◽  
ULRIKE FEUDEL ◽  
GEORG M. KLUMP ◽  
MARK A. BEE ◽  
JAN A. FREUND

Signal detection in fluctuating background noise is a common problem in diverse fields of research and technology. It has been shown in hearing research that the detection of signals in noise that is correlated in amplitude across the frequency spectrum (comodulated) can be improved compared to uncorrelated background noise. We show that the mechanism leading to this effect is a general phenomenon which may be utilized in other areas where signal detection in comodulated noise needs to be done with a limited frequency resolution. Our model is based on neurophysiological experiments. The proposed signal detection scheme evaluates a fluctuating envelope, the statistics of which depend on the correlation structure across the spectrum of the noise. In our model, signal detection does not require a sophisticated neuronal network but can be accomplished through the encoding of the compressed stimulus envelope in the firing rate of neurons in the auditory system.


Author(s):  
Donnavan J.D. Kruger ◽  
Louis Du Preez

Frogs change their call pitch to adapt to the traffic noise in urbanenvironments. Male frogs calls to attract females or to defend territories from rival males.Females of some species prefer lower-pitched calls which indicate larger, more experiencedmales. Acoustic interference occurs when the background noise reduces the active distance.


Author(s):  
D.R. Ensor ◽  
C.G. Jensen ◽  
J.A. Fillery ◽  
R.J.K. Baker

Because periodicity is a major indicator of structural organisation numerous methods have been devised to demonstrate periodicity masked by background “noise” in the electron microscope image (e.g. photographic image reinforcement, Markham et al, 1964; optical diffraction techniques, Horne, 1977; McIntosh,1974). Computer correlation analysis of a densitometer tracing provides another means of minimising "noise". The correlation process uncovers periodic information by cancelling random elements. The technique is easily executed, the results are readily interpreted and the computer removes tedium, lends accuracy and assists in impartiality.A scanning densitometer was adapted to allow computer control of the scan and to give direct computer storage of the data. A photographic transparency of the image to be scanned is mounted on a stage coupled directly to an accurate screw thread driven by a stepping motor. The stage is moved so that the fixed beam of the densitometer (which is directed normal to the transparency) traces a straight line along the structure of interest in the image.


Author(s):  
G.D. Danilatos

The possibility of placing the specimen in a gaseous medium in the environmental SEM (ESEM) has created novel ways for detection of signals from the beam-specimen interactions. It was originally reported by Oanilatos that the ionization produced by certain signals inside the conditioning medium can be used to produce images. The aim of this report is to demonstrate some of the improvements on the system that have occurred thereafter.Two straight thin wires are aligned horizontally along a direction normal to the direction of the two scintillator backscattered electron (BSE) detectors reported elsewhere. The free end tips of the wires are about 5 mm apart halfway between the specimen and the pressure limiting aperture (specimen distance = 1.5 mm). The other end of each wire makes contact with the input of a separate preamplifier, two of which are built inside a shielding aluminum stub. With such a design, interference noise from the input cables is avoided.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 419-428
Author(s):  
Jasleen Singh ◽  
Karen A. Doherty

Purpose The aim of the study was to assess how the use of a mild-gain hearing aid can affect hearing handicap, motivation, and attitudes toward hearing aids for middle-age, normal-hearing adults who do and do not self-report trouble hearing in background noise. Method A total of 20 participants (45–60 years of age) with clinically normal-hearing thresholds (< 25 dB HL) were enrolled in this study. Ten self-reported difficulty hearing in background noise, and 10 did not self-report difficulty hearing in background noise. All participants were fit with mild-gain hearing aids, bilaterally, and were asked to wear them for 2 weeks. Hearing handicap, attitudes toward hearing aids and hearing loss, and motivation to address hearing problems were evaluated before and after participants wore the hearing aids. Participants were also asked if they would consider purchasing a hearing aid before and after 2 weeks of hearing aid use. Results After wearing the hearing aids for 2 weeks, hearing handicap scores decreased for the participants who self-reported difficulty hearing in background noise. No changes in hearing handicap scores were observed for the participants who did not self-report trouble hearing in background noise. The participants who self-reported difficulty hearing in background noise also reported greater personal distress from their hearing problems, were more motivated to address their hearing problems, and had higher levels of hearing handicap compared to the participants who did not self-report trouble hearing in background noise. Only 20% (2/10) of the participants who self-reported trouble hearing in background noise reported that they would consider purchasing a hearing aid after 2 weeks of hearing aid use. Conclusions The use of mild-gain hearing aids has the potential to reduce hearing handicap for normal-hearing, middle-age adults who self-report difficulty hearing in background noise. However, this may not be the most appropriate treatment option for their current hearing problems given that only 20% of these participants would consider purchasing a hearing aid after wearing hearing aids for 2 weeks.


2008 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-24
Author(s):  
Erin C. Schafer

Children who use cochlear implants experience significant difficulty hearing speech in the presence of background noise, such as in the classroom. To address these difficulties, audiologists often recommend frequency-modulated (FM) systems for children with cochlear implants. The purpose of this article is to examine current empirical research in the area of FM systems and cochlear implants. Discussion topics will include selecting the optimal type of FM receiver, benefits of binaural FM-system input, importance of DAI receiver-gain settings, and effects of speech-processor programming on speech recognition. FM systems significantly improve the signal-to-noise ratio at the child's ear through the use of three types of FM receivers: mounted speakers, desktop speakers, or direct-audio input (DAI). This discussion will aid audiologists in making evidence-based recommendations for children using cochlear implants and FM systems.


1967 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 367-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
James D. Miller ◽  
Arthur F. Niemoeller

Results of intelligibility tests on a single patient with a severe discrimination loss for speech are reported. The patient was tested with four different hearing aids and with no aid, and the effects of opportunity for lipreading, background noise, and reverberation were evaluated. The tests appear to allow an accurate estimate of the amount of help to be expected in various situations and show that an aid with good fidelity is clearly superior to the others tested. The destructive effects of background noise and reverberation are demonstrated separately and in combination.


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