DISCRIMINATIVE ECHOLOCATION IN A PORPOISE1,2
- 1 September 1966
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
- Vol. 9 (5), 535-544
- https://doi.org/10.1901/jeab.1966.9-535
Abstract
Operant conditioning techniques were used to establish a discriminative echolocation performance in a porpoise. Pairs of spheres of disparate diameters were presented in an underwater display, and the positions of the spheres were switched according to a scrambled sequence while the blindfolded porpoise responded on a pair of submerged response levers. Responses which identified the momentary state of the display were food-reinforced, while those which did not (errors) produced time out. Errors were then studied in relation to decreased disparity between the spheres. As disparity was decreased, errors which terminated runs of correct responses occurred more frequently and were followed by longer strings of consecutive errors. Increased errors and disruption of a stable pattern of collateral behavior were associated. Since some sources of error other than decreased disparity were present, the porpoise's final performance did not fully reflect the acuity of its echolocation channel.This publication has 4 references indexed in Scilit:
- AN EXPERIMENTAL DEMONSTRATION OF ECHOLOCATION BEHAVIOR IN THE PORPOISE, TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS (MONTAGU)The Biological Bulletin, 1961
- Auditory scanning in the dolphinThe Psychological Record, 1960
- Echo Ranging in the PorpoiseScience, 1958
- Auditory response of a bottlenosed porpoise, Tursiops truncatus, to frequencies above 100 KCJournal of Experimental Zoology, 1953