Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Depth perception by means of ambient sounds in a small mammal

  • Specialia
  • Published:
Experientia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Golden hamsters placed on a jumping stand from which they can descend onto a shallow or deep landing platform prefer to descend on to the shallow platform, even when tested under IR-light without tactile cues. This preference disappears for subjects with plugged ears. The simultaneous recording of the animal's behaviour and possible emission of ultrasound as well as experiments in which the external acoustical conditions or the sound-reflecting properties of the jumping apparatus were altered suggest that the animals use certain parameters of the ambient sound field for depth perception.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literatur

  1. C. Thinus-Blanc, Année psychol.75, 457 (1975).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. H. R. Schiffman, J. comp. physiol. Psychol.76, 491 (1971).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. J. Vauclair, Thesis 98, Fac. psychol. scienc. éduc., Genève 1979.

  4. J. Vauclair, R. Gramoni, J.-J. Meyer and M. Zinder, Biol. Behav.2, 353 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  5. O. R. Floody and D. W. Pfaff, J. comp. physiol. Psychol.91, 794 (1977).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. E. R. Büchler and A. R. Mitz, in: Animal sonar systems, p. 871. Eds R. G. Busnel and J. F. Fish. Plenum Press, New York and London 1980.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  7. D. A. Riley and M. R. Rosenzweig, J. comp. physiol. Psychol.50, 323 (1957).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. A. Finck, J. Audit. Res.8, 207 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  9. J. P. Wilson, in: Animal sonar systems, p. 89. Ed. R. G. Busnel. Lab. Physiol. Acoust. INRA, Jouy-en-Josas, France 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  10. H. Kahman and K. Ostermann, Experientia7, 268 (1951).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. A. Brotzler, Z. vergl. Physiol.47, 148 (1963).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. E. Gould, N. C. Negus and A. Novick, J. exp. Zool.156, 19 (1964).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. E. R. Büchler, Anim. Behav.24, 858 (1976).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. O. W. Henson and H. U. Schnitzler, in: Animal sonar systems, p. 183. Eds. R. G. Busnel and J. F. Fish. Plenum Press, New York and London 1980.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  15. G. Sales and D. Pye, Ultrasonic Communication by Animals. Chapman and Hall, London 1974.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  16. D. Covalt Duning and L. N. Payne, Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol.6, 1 (1979).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculté de Psychologie et des Sciences de l'Education, Université de Genève, 3 Place de l'Université, CH-1211, Genève 4, Switzerland

    A. S. Etienne, J. Vauclair, E. Emmanuelli, M. Lançon & J. Stryjenski

  2. Ecole d'Architecture, Université de Genève, CH-1211, Genève 4, Switzerland

    A. S. Etienne, J. Vauclair, E. Emmanuelli, M. Lançon & J. Stryjenski

Authors
  1. A. S. Etienne
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. Vauclair
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E. Emmanuelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. Lançon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. J. Stryjenski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Acknowledgments. This research was supported by the Fonds National Suisse de la Recherche Scientifique, grant No. 3.349.74.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Etienne, A.S., Vauclair, J., Emmanuelli, E. et al. Depth perception by means of ambient sounds in a small mammal. Experientia 38, 553–555 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02327044

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02327044

Keywords

Search

Navigation