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The referentiality of chimpanzee vocal signaling: behavioral and acoustic analysis of food barks

Gibbons, Christopher M

Abstract Details

2007, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Psychology.
To explore the degree to which chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) food vocalizations specifically reference a particular food (e.g. carrot, apple, grape, etc.) or more generally reflect categorical food value (low, medium, or high), a critical elaboration of Hallberg, Nelson, and Boysen (2003) was undertaken. Three phases of this experimental endeavor included: 1) stimuli recording and assembly, 2) experimental presentation of the stimuli via playback paradigm to gather behavioral response data, 3) in-depth acoustic analysis of the stimuli in an attempt to explain chimpanzee response patterns. Stimuli were digitally captured (video and acoustic) during controlled presentation of specific food items to captive chimpanzees. Stimuli were randomly presented to five adult subjects at their “work station” via speaker. Digital photos of four foods immediately appeared in a 2x2 matrix on a touch screen monitor (one photo matching the food presented during the initial recording of the vocalization). Subjects were non-differentially rewarded for selecting a food item. Statistical analysis determined percent correct for food specificity and category value, error patterns as well as context bias relative to food picture placement in the matrix (bias for food categories represented more than once in each choice array). Acoustic analysis of the 36 vocalizations used during the playback experiment included identification of salient features (e.g. bout element structure, element pulse structure, amplitude, etc.) that may contribute to referential qualities. As hypothesized, subjects exhibited statistically significant food specific and category associations, particularly for those vocalizations associated with high value foods. Discriminant function analysis of acoustic features grouped vocalizations by category value.
Sarah (Sally) Boysen (Advisor)

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Gibbons, C. M. (2007). The referentiality of chimpanzee vocal signaling: behavioral and acoustic analysis of food barks [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1173219994

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Gibbons, Christopher. The referentiality of chimpanzee vocal signaling: behavioral and acoustic analysis of food barks. 2007. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1173219994.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Gibbons, Christopher. "The referentiality of chimpanzee vocal signaling: behavioral and acoustic analysis of food barks." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1173219994

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)