Auditory discrimination in a sound-producing electric fish (Pollimyrus): tone frequency and click-rate difference detection

Pollimyrus adspersus is a fish that uses simple sounds for communication and has auditory specializations for sound-pressure detection. The sounds are species-specific, and the sounds of individuals are sufficiently stereotyped that they could mediate individual recognition. Behavioral measurements are presented indicating that Pollimyrus probably can make species and individual discriminations on the basis of acoustic cues. Interclick interval (ICI; 10-40 ms) and frequency (100-1400 Hz) discrimination was assessed using modulations of the fish's electric organ discharge rate in the presence of a target stimulus presented in alternation with an ongoing base stimulus. Tone frequency discrimination was best in the 200-600-Hz range, with the best threshold of 1.7% +/- 0.4% standard error at 500 Hz (or 8.5 Hz +/- 1.9 SE). The just noticeable differences (jnd's) were relatively constant from 100 to 500 Hz (mean 8.7 Hz), then increased at a rate of 13.3 Hz per 100 Hz. For click trains, jnd's increased linearly with ICI. The mean jnd's for 10- and 15-ms ICI were both 300 micros (SE= 0.8 ms at 10-ms ICI, SE= 0.11 ms at 15-ms ICI). The jnd at 20-ms ICI was only 1.1 ms +/- 0.25 SE.     

Auditory nerve fiber responses to electric stimulation: modulated and unmodulated pulse trains

Many modern cochlear implants use sound processing strategies that stimulate the cochlea with modulated pulse trains. Rubinstein et al. [Hear. Res. 127, 108 (1999)] suggested that representation of the modulator in auditory nerve responses might be improved by the addition of a sustained, high-rate, desynchronizing pulse train (DPT). In addition, activity in response to the DPT may mimic the spontaneous activity (SA) in a healthy ear. The goals of this study were to compare responses of auditory nerve fibers in acutely deafened, anesthetized cats elicited by high-rate electric pulse trains delivered through an intracochlear electrode with SA, and to measure responses of these fibers to amplitude-modulated pulse trains superimposed upon a DPT. Responses to pulse trains showed variability from presentation to presentation, but differed from SA in the shape of the envelope of the interval histogram (IH) for pulse rates above 4.8 kpps (kilo pulses per second). These IHs had a prominent mode near 5 ms that was followed by a long tail. Responses to modulated biphasic pulse trains resembled responses to tones in intact ears for small (<10%) modulation depths, suggesting that acousticlike responses to sinusoidal stimuli might be obtained with a DPT. However, realistic responses were only observed over a narrow range of levels and modulation depths. Improved coding of complex stimulus waveforms may be achieved by signal processing strategies for cochlear implants that properly incorporate a DPT.     

Number and duration of echolocation click trains produced by a harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in relation to target and performance

Echolocation effort (number and duration of echolocation click trains produced) by a harbor porpoise is described in relation to target presence, strength and distance, and performance of the detection task. The porpoise was presented with two target sizes at five distances (12-20 m), or no target, and had to indicate whether it could detect the target. Small, distant targets required long and multiple click trains. Multiple click trains mostly occurred when the small target was far away and not detected, and during target-absent trials in which the animal correctly responded. In target-absent trials, an incorrect response was linked to short click trains. Click train duration probably increased until the animal's certainty about the target's presence or absence exceeded a certain level, after which the porpoise responded.     

Simultaneously measured behavioral and electrophysiological hearing thresholds in a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

Dolphin auditory thresholds obtained via evoked potential audiometry may deviate from behavioral estimates by 20 dB or more. Differences in the sound source, stimulus presentation method, wave form, and duration may partially explain these discrepancies. To determine the agreement between behavioral and auditory evoked potential (AEP) threshold estimates when these parameters are held constant, behavioral and AEP hearing tests were simultaneously conducted in a bottlenose dolphin. Measurements were made in-air, using sinusoidal amplitude-modulated tones continuously projected via a transducer coupled to the pan region of the dolphin's lower jaw. Tone trials were presented using the method of constant stimuli. Behavioral thresholds were estimated using a 50% correct detection. AEP thresholds were based on the envelope following response and 50% correct detection. Differences between AEP and behavioral thresholds were within +/-5 dB, except at 10 kHz (12 dB), 20 kHz (8 dB), 30 kHz (7 dB), and 150 kHz (24 dB). In general, behavioral thresholds were slightly lower, though this trend was not significant. The results demonstrate that when the test environment, sound source, stimulus wave form, duration, presentation method, and analysis are consistent, the magnitude of the differences between AEP and behavioral thresholds is substantially reduced.     

Duration discrimination of steady and gliding tones: a new method for estimating sensitivity to rate of change

Thresholds for the detection of differences in duration were measured in a two-alternative, forced-choice task for four types of signals, all centered at 2000 Hz: (1) sinusoids fixed in frequency and level; (2) sinusoids of fixed frequency whose level was swept up or down by 5 or 10 dB; (3) sinusoids of fixed level whose frequency was swept up or down by 100 Hz; and (4) sinusoids whose level was swept up or down by 10 dB and whose frequency was swept up or down by 100 Hz. For types (2)-(4), the direction of the sweeps was fixed within a run. The duration of the standard was either fixed at 750 ms or was varied randomly from trial to trial by up to +/- 7% about 750 ms. The duration of the comparison signal was initially 100 ms greater than that of the standard and was varied adaptively to determine threshold. The pattern of results was similar for all four subjects tested. Duration-discrimination thresholds for the signals that were swept in level and/or frequency were lower than those for the fixed signal, typically by 15-20 ms. This indicates that subjects were sensitive to the rate of change of frequency and/or level and could use this as a cue for duration discrimination. The Weber fraction for rate of change was estimated to be about 0.05-0.06 and was similar for changes in level and in frequency.     

Auditory and behavioral responses of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and a beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) to impulsive sounds resembling distant signatures of underwater explosions

A behavioral response paradigm was used to measure masked underwater hearing thresholds in two bottlenose dolphins and one beluga whale before and after exposure to impulsive underwater sounds with waveforms resembling distant signatures of underwater explosions. An array of piezoelectric transducers was used to generate impulsive sounds with waveforms approximating those predicted from 5 or 500 kg HBX-1 charges at ranges from 1.5 to 55.6 km. At the conclusion of the study, no temporary shifts in masked-hearing thresholds (MTTSs), defined as a 6-dB or larger increase in threshold over pre-exposure levels, had been observed at the highest impulse level generated (500 kg at 1.7 km, peak pressure 70 kPa); however, disruptions of the animals' trained behaviors began to occur at exposures corresponding to 5 kg at 9.3 km and 5 kg at 1.5 km for the dolphins and 500 kg at 1.9 km for the beluga whale. These data are the first direct information regarding the effects of distant underwater explosion signatures on the hearing abilities of odontocetes.     

Comparing behavioral and physiological measures of combination tones: Sex and race differences

Both distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) and performance in an auditory-masking task involving combination tones were measured in the same frequency region in the same ears. In the behavioral task, a signal of 3.6?kHz (duration 300?ms, rise/fall time 20?ms) was masked by a 3.0-kHz tone (62?dB SPL, continuously presented). These two frequencies can produce a combination tone at 2.4?kHz. When a narrowband noise (2.0-2.8?kHz, 17?dB spectrum level) was added as a second masker, detection of the 3.6-kHz signal worsened by 6-9?dB (the Greenwood effect), revealing that listeners had been using the combination tone at 2.4?kHz as a cue for detection at 3.6?kHz. Several outcomes differed markedly by sex and racial background. The Greenwood effect was substantially larger in females than in males, but only for the White group. When the magnitude of the Greenwood effect was compared with the magnitude of the DPOAE measured in the 2.4?kHz region, the correlations typically were modest, but were high for Non-White males. For many subjects, then, most of the DPOAE measured in the ear canal apparently is not related to the combination-tone cue that is masked by the narrowband noise.     

Auditory and behavioral responses of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) to single underwater impulses from an arc-gap transducer

A behavioral response paradigm was used to measure underwater hearing thresholds in two California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) before and after exposure to underwater impulses from an arc-gap transducer. Preexposure and postexposure hearing thresholds were compared to determine if the subjects experienced temporary shifts in their masked hearing thresholds (MTTS). Hearing thresholds were measured at 1 and 10 kHz. Exposures consisted of single underwater impulses produced by an arc-gap transducer referred to as a "pulsed power device" (PPD). The electrical charge of the PPD was varied from 1.32 to 2.77 kJ; the distance between the subject and the PPD was varied over the range 3.4 to 25 m. No MTTS was observed in either subject at the highest received levels: peak pressures of approximately 6.8 and 14 kPa, rms pressures of approximately 178 and 183 dB re: 1 microPa, and total energy fluxes of 161 and 163 dB re: 1 microPa2s for the two subjects. Behavioral reactions to the tests were observed in both subjects. These reactions primarily consisted of temporary avoidance of the site where exposure to the PPD impulse had previously occurred.     

Temporary threshold shift in a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) exposed to intermittent tones

Temporary threshold shift (TTS) was measured in a bottlenose dolphin exposed to a sequence of four 3-kHz tones with durations of 16 s and sound pressure levels (SPLs) of 192 dB re 1 μPa. The tones were separated by 224 s of silence, resulting in duty cycle of approximately 7%. The resulting growth and recovery of TTS were compared to experimentally measured TTS in the same subject exposed to single, continuous tones with similar SPLs. The data confirm the potential for accumulation of TTS across multiple exposures and for recovery of hearing during the quiet intervals between exposures. The degree to which various models could predict the growth of TTS across multiple exposures was also examined.     

Auditory brainstem responses in the Eastern Screech Owl: an estimate of auditory thresholds

The auditory brainstem response (ABR), a measure of neural synchrony, was used to estimate auditory sensitivity in the eastern screech owl (Megascops asio). The typical screech owl ABR waveform showed two to three prominent peaks occurring within 5 ms of stimulus onset. As sound pressure levels increased, the ABR peak amplitude increased and latency decreased. With an increasing stimulus presentation rate, ABR peak amplitude decreased and latency increased. Generally, changes in the ABR waveform to stimulus intensity and repetition rate are consistent with the pattern found in several avian families. The ABR audiogram shows that screech owls hear best between 1.5 and 6.4 kHz with the most acute sensitivity between 4-5.7 kHz. The shape of the average screech owl ABR audiogram is similar to the shape of the behaviorally measured audiogram of the barn owl, except at the highest frequencies. Our data also show differences in overall auditory sensitivity between the color morphs of screech owls.     

High sensitivity IR spectroscopic methods of self-assembling monolayers (SAM) measurements

New systems of coupling the FTIR spectrum signal amplification, mainly for self-assembling monolayers (SAMs) investigation, were developed. These systems based on hollow waveguide (HW) or half cylinder mirror, which have negligible attenuation in the mid infrared; enable to obtain high signal sensitivity of the samples absorption due to the very high signal to noise ratio. This has lead more detailed characterization of the SAMs molecular structure and its modifications. In addition, a linear dependence of the signal on the number of IR radiation rays incidents on length of HW, which has resulted in simple interpretation of results, was obtained.     

Kerr effect: Application to phase and electric field induced absorption measurements in glasses

New procedures with a versatile and sensitive method for measuring the amplitude of the d.c. Kerr constant enable to obtain the phase of this constant as well as an electric field-induced transmittance change of the probe light. Temperature dependences of this effect in an optical glass FeD 1821 between 300–450 K and in bulk amorphous (vinyl acetate) between 20–120°C are carried out to illustrate the method.     

Calculations and measurements to a phase-free accelerating stage using electric ac-fields in a triangular shaped electrode system

A phase-free accelerating stage for charged particles has been constructed which makes use of electric ac-fields in a triangular shaped electrode system combined with ac-deflecting devices in the MHz-range. An elaborate calculation of the energy gain based on a time dependent Hamiltonian and a simplified calculation assuming perfect shielding within the electrodes were performed. The theoretical results are compared with measurements at a frequency of 13.55 MHz and at peak electrode voltages of 3 kV and 0.5 kV. The maximum energy gain of electrons with an incident energy of 20 keV was measured to be 140 eV at the 3 kV peak voltage. Construction and properties of the retarding-field energy analyzer and of the resonant circuits are given. It is shown that rf-driven magnetic deflecting coils diminish the energy gain due to induced electric fields. Rf-electric capacitor fields seem to be superior to the rf-magnetic fields because they reduce the energy gain very little and furthermore offer a simultaneous phase-free particle acceleration in opposite directions. The possible applications of such a phase-free accelerating stage for heating up a plasma and for producing an intense ring of relativistic electrons are discussed.     

A comparison of underwater hearing sensitivity in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) determined by electrophysiological and behavioral methods

Variable stimulus presentation methods are used in auditory evoked potential (AEP) estimates of cetacean hearing sensitivity, each of which might affect stimulus reception and hearing threshold estimates. This study quantifies differences in underwater hearing thresholds obtained by AEP and behavioral means. For AEP estimates, a transducer embedded in a suction cup (jawphone) was coupled to the dolphin's lower jaw for stimulus presentation. Underwater AEP thresholds were obtained for three dolphins in San Diego Bay and for one dolphin in a quiet pool. Thresholds were estimated from the envelope following response at carrier frequencies ranging from 10 to 150 kHz. One animal, with an atypical audiogram, demonstrated significantly greater hearing loss in the right ear than in the left. Across test conditions, the range and average difference between AEP and behavioral threshold estimates were consistent with published comparisons between underwater behavioral and in-air AEP thresholds. AEP thresholds for one animal obtained in-air and in a quiet pool demonstrated a range of differences of -10 to 9 dB (mean = 3 dB). Results suggest that for the frequencies tested, the presentation of sound stimuli through a jawphone, underwater and in-air, results in acceptable differences to AEP threshold estimates.     

Listeners' sensitivity to "onset/offset" and "ongoing" interaural delays in high-frequency, sinusoidally amplitude-modulated tones

The relative potency of onset/offset and envelope-based ongoing interaural time delays (ITDs) was assessed using high-frequency stimuli. A two-cue, two-alternative, forced-choice adaptive task was employed to measure threshold ITDs with 100% sinusoidally amplitude-modulated tones centered at 4 kHz. Modulation rates of 125, 250, and 350 Hz were tested with durations of 32, 90, or 240 ms. In the first experiment, ITDs to be detected were imposed only at the onset/offset, only within the ongoing portion, or within both the onset/offset and ongoing portions of the stimuli. Results indicated that ongoing ITDs dominated onset/offset ITDs. The relative potency of ongoing ITDs was directly proportional to duration and inversely proportional to modulation rate. Quantitative analysis suggested that listeners effectively combine onset/offset and ongoing ITDs. Furthermore, the data could be largely accounted for by assuming that listeners attend to the interaural decorrelation of the stimulus resulting from onset/offset and/or ongoing ITDs. A second experiment showed that, (1) overall, an ongoing ITD of one-half period of the envelope had little impact on listeners' sensitivity to delays of the onset/offset and (2) sensitivity to delays within the onset/offset portion of the waveform was reduced by roving the delay within the ongoing portion of the waveform.     

Temporary shift in masked hearing thresholds of bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, and white whales, Delphinapterus leucas, after exposure to intense tones

A behavioral response paradigm was used to measure masked underwater hearing thresholds in five bottlenose dolphins and two white whales before and immediately after exposure to intense 1-s tones at 0.4, 3, 10, 20, and 75 kHz. The resulting levels of fatiguing stimuli necessary to induce 6 dB or larger masked temporary threshold shifts (MTTSs) were generally between 192 and 201 dB re: 1 microPa. The exceptions occurred at 75 kHz, where one dolphin exhibited an MTTS after exposure at 182 dB re: 1 microPa and the other dolphin did not show any shift after exposure to maximum levels of 193 dB re: 1 microPa, and at 0.4 kHz, where no subjects exhibited shifts at levels up to 193 dB re: 1 microPa. The shifts occurred most often at frequencies above the fatiguing stimulus. Dolphins began to exhibit altered behavior at levels of 178-193 dB re: 1 microPa and above; white whales displayed altered behavior at 180-196 dB re: 1 microPa and above. At the conclusion of the study all thresholds were at baseline values. These data confirm that cetaceans are susceptible to temporary threshold shifts (TTS) and that small levels of TTS may be fully recovered.     

Nuclear magnetic shielding of a hydrogen atom in (1) an electric field-gradient and (2) a cage

The ground state wave function of a hydrogen atom in an electric field-gradient F' is obtained, correct to the first power in F', and the nuclear magnetic screening constant σ evaluated. The F' contribution to σ vanishes if all directions of F' relative to the applied magnetic field are equally probable. In part (2), the influence of a uniform compression of the H-atom on σ is examined. This effect, which will predominate at sufficiently high pressures, causes a decrease in the electronic polarizability but an increase in σ.     

Coherent interaction of picosecond pulses in a fluorescent medium and the timing of pulse trains for two-wavelength excite and probe measurements

Coherent interaction between two cw, picosecond pulse trains of the same wavelength absorbed by a fluorescent material and the effect on the emission has been studied. As the path difference between the two beams is varied, the infra-red emission from colour centres in KCl: Na or KCl: Li fluctuates in phase with the transmitted intensity of the weaker of the two beams. The effect may be applied to the accurate relative timing of cw pulse trains of different wavelengths for use in two-wavelength, excite and probe measurements. A small fraction of the pump pulse train is superimposed on the probe beam and passes along precisely the same optical path. Coherent interaction between the two pulse trains at the pump frequency causes modulation of the transmitted probe beam intensity when pump and probe pulses are accurately synchronised.     

Transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) X-ray guided modes in a two-layer crystalline heterostructure: A comparison

Polarization effects upon Bragg-case hard X-ray dynamical diffraction in a two-layer crystalline heterostructure waveguide have been investigated with the help of numerical modeling. A difference is shown to exist in both intensities and excitation conditions between TE (transverse electric) and TM (transverse magnetic) X-ray guided modes that are inherent to the waveguide. A comparison of σ- and π-polarized X-ray reflectivity curves from such a waveguide is performed. Possibilities for the experimental excitation of the TE and TM X-ray guided modes are discussed.