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- Title
Vocal Imitation of Human Speech, Synthetic Sounds and Beluga Sounds, by a Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas).
- Authors
Tsukasa Murayama; So Iijima; Hiroshi Katsumata; Kazutoshi Arai
- Abstract
We tested the ability of a male beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) to imitate 11 sounds presented to it. During the training session, we presented the subject 3 recorded sounds emitted by the subject itself, and the subject was trained to imitate them. The subject learned to correctly imitate the sounds. During the test session, 2 novel computer-generated artificial sounds were presented through an audio speaker. In addition, 9 arbitrary vocal sounds produced by the experimenter were presented to the subject, and the subject was required to imitate them. 9 persons, who were not involved in the experiment, were presented the sample sounds and imitated calls; subsequently, they judged whether both sounds were similar to each other. Further, the sound spectrums of the sample sounds and imitated calls were analyzed. As a result, we found that some components of the sound spectrums were similar, and most imitated calls possessed spectral features similar to those of the sample sounds. These results demonstrated that the beluga correctly imitated novel sounds and spontaneously displayed an aptitude for imitation.
- Subjects
WHITE whale; FISH sounds; SOUND recording &; reproducing; IMITATIVE behavior; SOUND archives; ANIMAL calls; ANIMAL behavior
- Publication
International Journal of Comparative Psychology, 2014, Vol 27, Issue 3, p368
- ISSN
0889-3667
- Publication type
Article