Visual timing abilities of a harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) and a South African fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) for sub- and supra-second time intervals.
Timing is an essential parameter influencing many behaviours. A previous study demonstrated a high sensitivity of a phocid, the harbour seal (Phoca vitulina), in discriminating time intervals. In the present study, we compared the harbour seal's timing abilities with the timing abilities of an...
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ftpubmed:32388781 2024-09-15T18:10:44+00:00 Visual timing abilities of a harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) and a South African fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) for sub- and supra-second time intervals. Heinrich, Tamara Ravignani, Andrea Hanke, Frederike D 2020 Sep https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-020-01390-3 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32388781 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7415748/ eng eng Springer https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-020-01390-3 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32388781 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7415748/ Anim Cogn ISSN:1435-9456 Volume:23 Issue:5 Interval timing Pinnipeds Sense of time Time difference thresholds Timing Visual timing Journal Article 2020 ftpubmed https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-020-01390-3 2024-07-31T16:03:00Z Timing is an essential parameter influencing many behaviours. A previous study demonstrated a high sensitivity of a phocid, the harbour seal (Phoca vitulina), in discriminating time intervals. In the present study, we compared the harbour seal's timing abilities with the timing abilities of an otariid, the South African fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus). This comparison seemed essential as phocids and otariids differ in many respects and might, thus, also differ regarding their timing abilities. We determined time difference thresholds for sub- and suprasecond time intervals marked by a white circle on a black background displayed for a specific time interval on a monitor using a staircase method. Contrary to our expectation, the timing abilities of the fur seal and the harbour seal were comparable. Over a broad range of time intervals, 0.8-7 s in the fur seal and 0.8-30 s in the harbour seal, the difference thresholds followed Weber's law. In this range, both animals could discriminate time intervals differing only by 12 % and 14 % on average. Timing might, thus be a fundamental cue for pinnipeds in general to be used in various contexts, thereby complementing information provided by classical sensory systems. Future studies will help to clarify if timing is indeed involved in foraging decisions or the estimation of travel speed or distance. Article in Journal/Newspaper harbour seal Phoca vitulina PubMed Central (PMC) Animal Cognition 23 5 851 859 |
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Open Polar |
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PubMed Central (PMC) |
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ftpubmed |
language |
English |
topic |
Interval timing Pinnipeds Sense of time Time difference thresholds Timing Visual timing |
spellingShingle |
Interval timing Pinnipeds Sense of time Time difference thresholds Timing Visual timing Heinrich, Tamara Ravignani, Andrea Hanke, Frederike D Visual timing abilities of a harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) and a South African fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) for sub- and supra-second time intervals. |
topic_facet |
Interval timing Pinnipeds Sense of time Time difference thresholds Timing Visual timing |
description |
Timing is an essential parameter influencing many behaviours. A previous study demonstrated a high sensitivity of a phocid, the harbour seal (Phoca vitulina), in discriminating time intervals. In the present study, we compared the harbour seal's timing abilities with the timing abilities of an otariid, the South African fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus). This comparison seemed essential as phocids and otariids differ in many respects and might, thus, also differ regarding their timing abilities. We determined time difference thresholds for sub- and suprasecond time intervals marked by a white circle on a black background displayed for a specific time interval on a monitor using a staircase method. Contrary to our expectation, the timing abilities of the fur seal and the harbour seal were comparable. Over a broad range of time intervals, 0.8-7 s in the fur seal and 0.8-30 s in the harbour seal, the difference thresholds followed Weber's law. In this range, both animals could discriminate time intervals differing only by 12 % and 14 % on average. Timing might, thus be a fundamental cue for pinnipeds in general to be used in various contexts, thereby complementing information provided by classical sensory systems. Future studies will help to clarify if timing is indeed involved in foraging decisions or the estimation of travel speed or distance. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Heinrich, Tamara Ravignani, Andrea Hanke, Frederike D |
author_facet |
Heinrich, Tamara Ravignani, Andrea Hanke, Frederike D |
author_sort |
Heinrich, Tamara |
title |
Visual timing abilities of a harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) and a South African fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) for sub- and supra-second time intervals. |
title_short |
Visual timing abilities of a harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) and a South African fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) for sub- and supra-second time intervals. |
title_full |
Visual timing abilities of a harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) and a South African fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) for sub- and supra-second time intervals. |
title_fullStr |
Visual timing abilities of a harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) and a South African fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) for sub- and supra-second time intervals. |
title_full_unstemmed |
Visual timing abilities of a harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) and a South African fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) for sub- and supra-second time intervals. |
title_sort |
visual timing abilities of a harbour seal (phoca vitulina) and a south african fur seal (arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) for sub- and supra-second time intervals. |
publisher |
Springer |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-020-01390-3 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32388781 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7415748/ |
genre |
harbour seal Phoca vitulina |
genre_facet |
harbour seal Phoca vitulina |
op_source |
Anim Cogn ISSN:1435-9456 Volume:23 Issue:5 |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-020-01390-3 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32388781 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7415748/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-020-01390-3 |
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Animal Cognition |
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23 |
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5 |
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851 |
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