Behaviorally measured tactile sensitivity in the common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus
Abstract Little research has been conducted on the somatosensory system of toothed whales and it remains uncertain how tactile sensitivity varies about their bodies. In this study, tactile sensitivity to high‐frequency (250‐Hz) displacement of the skin was quantified in three trained adult common bo...
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crwiley:10.1111/mms.12676 2024-09-15T18:39:12+00:00 Behaviorally measured tactile sensitivity in the common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus Strahan, Madelyn G. Houser, Dorian S. Finneran, James J. Mulsow, Jason Crocker, Daniel E. 2020 http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mms.12676 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fmms.12676 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/mms.12676 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1111/mms.12676 en eng Wiley http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor Marine Mammal Science volume 36, issue 3, page 802-812 ISSN 0824-0469 1748-7692 journal-article 2020 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12676 2024-07-18T04:27:29Z Abstract Little research has been conducted on the somatosensory system of toothed whales and it remains uncertain how tactile sensitivity varies about their bodies. In this study, tactile sensitivity to high‐frequency (250‐Hz) displacement of the skin was quantified in three trained adult common bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus ) using a vibratory device (tactor). The magnitude of skin displacement was controlled by varying the voltage to the tactor held against the skin surface with a constant force. Tactile thresholds were determined using an adaptive method of limits in which dolphins reported perception of the tactile stimulus by producing a whistle. Displacement thresholds ranged from 2.4 to 40 μm, with the greatest sensitivity found along the rostrum, melon, and blowhole. Sensitivity decreased caudally along the body, with the dorsal fin and tip of the fluke being the least sensitive locations tested. The results support hypotheses that the follicles on the dolphin rostrum are particularly important for perception. The reduction in tactile sensitivity at the appendages is consistent with their primary role in stabilization and locomotion compared to exploration or environmental sensing. Article in Journal/Newspaper toothed whales Wiley Online Library Marine Mammal Science 36 3 802 812 |
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Open Polar |
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Wiley Online Library |
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crwiley |
language |
English |
description |
Abstract Little research has been conducted on the somatosensory system of toothed whales and it remains uncertain how tactile sensitivity varies about their bodies. In this study, tactile sensitivity to high‐frequency (250‐Hz) displacement of the skin was quantified in three trained adult common bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus ) using a vibratory device (tactor). The magnitude of skin displacement was controlled by varying the voltage to the tactor held against the skin surface with a constant force. Tactile thresholds were determined using an adaptive method of limits in which dolphins reported perception of the tactile stimulus by producing a whistle. Displacement thresholds ranged from 2.4 to 40 μm, with the greatest sensitivity found along the rostrum, melon, and blowhole. Sensitivity decreased caudally along the body, with the dorsal fin and tip of the fluke being the least sensitive locations tested. The results support hypotheses that the follicles on the dolphin rostrum are particularly important for perception. The reduction in tactile sensitivity at the appendages is consistent with their primary role in stabilization and locomotion compared to exploration or environmental sensing. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Strahan, Madelyn G. Houser, Dorian S. Finneran, James J. Mulsow, Jason Crocker, Daniel E. |
spellingShingle |
Strahan, Madelyn G. Houser, Dorian S. Finneran, James J. Mulsow, Jason Crocker, Daniel E. Behaviorally measured tactile sensitivity in the common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus |
author_facet |
Strahan, Madelyn G. Houser, Dorian S. Finneran, James J. Mulsow, Jason Crocker, Daniel E. |
author_sort |
Strahan, Madelyn G. |
title |
Behaviorally measured tactile sensitivity in the common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus |
title_short |
Behaviorally measured tactile sensitivity in the common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus |
title_full |
Behaviorally measured tactile sensitivity in the common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus |
title_fullStr |
Behaviorally measured tactile sensitivity in the common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus |
title_full_unstemmed |
Behaviorally measured tactile sensitivity in the common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus |
title_sort |
behaviorally measured tactile sensitivity in the common bottlenose dolphin, tursiops truncatus |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mms.12676 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fmms.12676 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/mms.12676 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1111/mms.12676 |
genre |
toothed whales |
genre_facet |
toothed whales |
op_source |
Marine Mammal Science volume 36, issue 3, page 802-812 ISSN 0824-0469 1748-7692 |
op_rights |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12676 |
container_title |
Marine Mammal Science |
container_volume |
36 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
802 |
op_container_end_page |
812 |
_version_ |
1810483602667864064 |