A behavioral study of vibrational sensitivity in the pigeon (Columba livia) |
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Authors: | Jun -Xian Shen |
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Affiliation: | (1) Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine Zoologie, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, D-4630 Bochum 1, Federal Republic of Germany;(2) Present address: Institute of Biophysics, Academia Sinica, Peking, China |
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Abstract: | Summary The pigeon (Columba livia) has a well-developed ability to detect weak vibrations. Using the method of heart-rate conditioning the vibrational sensitivity was determined for four pigeons at an error probability of P<0.025. The threshold-frequency relationships indicate that the greatest sensitivity to vibrational stimuli is found in the frequency range from 300 to 1,000 Hz with thresholds of about 0.1 m; lowest threshold is 0.04 m at 500 Hz (Fig. 4). Pigeons can respond not only to the frequency of a stimulus, but also to its intensity. The interval decrement (in %) of ECG is a positive correlative function of the stimulus intensity, the calculated values being approximately 4–5% per order of magnitude of the stimulus amplitude (in m) at best frequencies (Fig. 5). The value of vibration detection for birds is discussed.Abbreviation ECG electrocardiogram |
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