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KMID : 0858620020060020114
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Korean Journal of Audiology
2002 Volume.6 No. 2 p.114 ~ p.117
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Acoustical Analysis of Call Structure in the Zebra Finch Language Model
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Lim Duk-Hwan
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Abstract
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It is difficult to establish useful language models due to complex acoustic structures and long critical periods involved in language development. The zebra finch (Poephila guttata) was chosen as an animal language model system because of its relatively short critical period and simple call structures. In this study, zebra finches’ call structures were analyzed in terms of basic acoustical features and their consistency as a language model. Eleven male subjects of more than 90 postnatal days were taped for their mating calls in a sound controlled room. Their mating calls were systematically recorded with custom-made automatic triggering circuits. Recorded calls were digitally approximated as time series and were statistically analyzed in the time-frequency domain. Basic acoustical features and their consistency were scaled in normalized indices. Call structures of the model system showed relatively high consistency indices and consisted of typical time series of complex features such as tones, harmonics, and frequency sweeps. The data also showed equal spacing of harmonic frequencies and slight variations in repetition rates and presentation orders. The mature zebra finch’s mating call exhibited relatively consistent acoustical properties in the spectro-temporal distribution and these call structures could serve as reliable tools in analyzing language-related behaviors.
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KEYWORD
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Call consistency, Language model, Basic acoustic features, Complex sounds
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