Summary
-
1.
Acoustic neurons in the avian cochlear nucleus are tonotopically arranged according to the sites of innervation on the basilar membrane by the connecting primary auditory fibers.
-
2.
The thresholds of single units vary distinctly with their characteristic frequencies The distribution of unit thresholds matches extremely well with the behavioral audibility curve.
-
3.
The numbers of units in the nucleus also vary with their CF's. The greatest number of units occurs within the frequency range in which auditory thresholds are lowest. Smaller numbers of units represent the frequency ranges higher or lower than the most sensitive region.
-
4.
The upper range of single unit CF's shows distinct interspecific variation which is correlated with the differences in the range of vocal frequencies. The upper limit of CF may be correlated with the bird's size.
-
5.
The lowest thresholds of single auditory neurons tend to fall uniformly between −60 and −80 DB (re. 1 dyne per cm2) among different species. The differences between the highest and lowest unit thresholds are also homogeneous (40–50 DB) among different species.
-
6.
Most songbirds do not seem to produce frequencies below 1 KHz but can hear them.
-
7.
The popular belief that songbirds can hear frequencies inaudible to man is not supported by reliable evidence.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Békésy, G. V.: Über die mechanische Frequenzanalyse in der Schnecke verschiedener Tiere. Akust. Z. 8, 3–11 (1944).
—: The vibration of the cochlear partition in anatomical preparations and in models of the inner ear. J. acoust. Soc. Amer. 21, 233–245 (1949).
—: Sensory inhibition. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton Univ. Press 1967.
Boord, R. L., Rasmussen, G. L.: Projection of the cochlear and lagenar nerves on the cochlear nuclei of the pigeon. J. comp. Neurol. 120, 463–475 (1963).
Brémond, J. C.: Reconnaissance de schémas réactogenes liés a l'information contenue dans le chant territorial du rouge-gorge. Proc. 14th Int. Ornithol. Congr., p. 217–229 (1967).
Capranica, R. R.: The evoked vocal response of the bullfrog. Cambridge, Massachusetts: M.I.T. Press 1965.
Dooling, R. J.: An audibility curve for the common canary as determined by instrumental avoidance conditioning. Master's Thesis, St. Louis University (1969).
Falls, J. B.: Properties of bird song eliciting responses from territorial males. Proc. 13th Int. Ornithol. Congr., p. 259–271 (1963).
Frishkopf, L. S., Goldstein, M. M., Jr.: Responses to acoustic stimuli from single units in the eighth nerve of the bullfrog. J. acoust. Soc. Amer. 35, 1219–1228 (1963).
Granit, O.: Beiträge zur Kenntnis des Gehörsinnes der Vögel. Ornis Fennica 18, 49–71 (1941).
Greenewalt, C. H.: Bird song: Acoustics and physiology. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press 1968.
Hubel, D.: Tungsten microelectrode for recording from single units. Science 125, 549–550 (1957).
Johnstone, B. M., Boyle, A. J. F.: Basilar membrane vibration examined with the Mössbauer technique. Science 158, 389–390 (1967).
Knecht, S.: Über den Gehörsinn und die Musikalität der Vögel. Z. vergl. Physiol. 27, 169–232 (1940).
Kiang, N. Y. S.: Discharge patterns of single fibers in the cat's auditory nerve. Cambridge, Massachusetts: M.I.T. Press 1966.
—, Marr, E. M., Demont, D.: Sensitivity of auditory-nerve fibers to tone stimuli. J. acoust. Soc. Amer. 42, 1206 (1967).
Lewy, F. H., Kobrak, H. G.: The neuronal projection of the cochlear spirals on the primary acoustic centers. Arch. Neurol. Psychiat. 35, 839–852 (1936).
Mulligan, J. A., Olsen, K. C.: Communication in canary courtship calls. In: Bird vocalizations (edit. by Hinde, R. A.), p. 165–184. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press 1969.
Rose, J. E., Galambos, R., Hughes, R. J.: Organization of frequency sensitive neurons in the cochlear nuclear complex of the cat, chap. 9 in: Neural mechanisms of the auditory and vestibular systems (edit. by Rasmussen, G. L., and W. F. Windle). Springfield, Illinois: Ch. C. Thomas Co. 1960.
Schuknecht, H. F.: Neuroanatomical correlates of auditory sensitivity and pitch discrimination in the cat, chap. 6 in: Neural mechanisms of the auditory and vestibular systems (edit. by Rasmussen, G. L., and W. F. Windle). Springfield, Ill.: Ch. C. Thomas Co. 1960.
Schwartzkopff, J.: On the hearing of birds. Auk 72, 340–341 (1955).
—: Über nervenphysiologische Resonanz im Acusticus-System des Wellensittichs. Z. Naturforsch. 136, 205–208 (1958).
—, Winter, P.: Zur Anatomie der Vogel-Cochlea unter natürlichen Bedingungen. Biol. Zbl. 79, 607–625 (1960).
Trainer, J. E.: The auditory acuity of certain birds. Ph. D. Thesis, Cornell University
Wassiljew, Ph. M.: Über das Unterscheidungsvermögen der Vögel für die hohen Töne. Z. vergl. Physiol. 19, 424–438 (1933).
Wever, E. G.: The cochlear potentials and their relation to hearing. Ann. Otol. (St. Louis) 68, 975–990 (1959).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported by U.S. National Science Foundation grants GB 5697 and GB 12729. I thank Dr. P. Marler, Dr. W. Lanyon and Mr. G. A. Manley for their generous assistance.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Konishi, M. Comparative neurophysiological studies of hearing and vocalizations in songbirds. Z. Vergl. Physiol. 66, 257–272 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00297829
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00297829