Abstract
Many mating signals consist of multimodal components that need decoding by several sensory modalities on the receiver's side. For methodological and conceptual reasons, the communicative functions of these signals are often investigated only one at a time. Likewise, variation of single signal traits are frequently correlated by researchers with senders' quality or receivers' behavioral responses. Consequently, the two classic and still dominating hypotheses regarding the communicative meaning of multimodal mating signals postulate that different components either serve as back-up messages or provide multiple meanings. Here we discuss how this conceptual dichotomy might have hampered a more integrative, perception encompassing understanding of multimodal communication: neither the multiple message nor the back-up signal hypotheses address the possibility that multimodal signals are integrated neurally into one percept. Therefore, when studying multimodal mating signals, we should be aware that they can give rise to multimodal percepts. This means that receivers can gain access to additional information inherent in combined signal components only ("the whole is something different than the sum of its parts"). We review the evidence for the importance of multimodal percepts and outline potential avenues for discovery of multimodal percepts in animal communication.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 124 |
| Pages (from-to) | 1-7 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| Volume | 7 |
| Issue number | APRIL |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 17 Apr 2019 |
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Keywords
- Animal communication
- Emergent properties
- Mate choice
- Mating signals
- Multimodal percepts
- Perceptual or sensory binding
- Sensory integration
Cite this
}
Toward testing for multimodal perception of mating signals. / Halfwerk, Wouter; Varkevisser, Judith; Simon, Ralph; Mendoza, Ezequiel; Scharff, Constance; Riebel, Katharina.
In: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Vol. 7, No. APRIL, 124, 17.04.2019, p. 1-7.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Review article › Academic › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Toward testing for multimodal perception of mating signals
AU - Halfwerk, Wouter
AU - Varkevisser, Judith
AU - Simon, Ralph
AU - Mendoza, Ezequiel
AU - Scharff, Constance
AU - Riebel, Katharina
PY - 2019/4/17
Y1 - 2019/4/17
N2 - Many mating signals consist of multimodal components that need decoding by several sensory modalities on the receiver's side. For methodological and conceptual reasons, the communicative functions of these signals are often investigated only one at a time. Likewise, variation of single signal traits are frequently correlated by researchers with senders' quality or receivers' behavioral responses. Consequently, the two classic and still dominating hypotheses regarding the communicative meaning of multimodal mating signals postulate that different components either serve as back-up messages or provide multiple meanings. Here we discuss how this conceptual dichotomy might have hampered a more integrative, perception encompassing understanding of multimodal communication: neither the multiple message nor the back-up signal hypotheses address the possibility that multimodal signals are integrated neurally into one percept. Therefore, when studying multimodal mating signals, we should be aware that they can give rise to multimodal percepts. This means that receivers can gain access to additional information inherent in combined signal components only ("the whole is something different than the sum of its parts"). We review the evidence for the importance of multimodal percepts and outline potential avenues for discovery of multimodal percepts in animal communication.
AB - Many mating signals consist of multimodal components that need decoding by several sensory modalities on the receiver's side. For methodological and conceptual reasons, the communicative functions of these signals are often investigated only one at a time. Likewise, variation of single signal traits are frequently correlated by researchers with senders' quality or receivers' behavioral responses. Consequently, the two classic and still dominating hypotheses regarding the communicative meaning of multimodal mating signals postulate that different components either serve as back-up messages or provide multiple meanings. Here we discuss how this conceptual dichotomy might have hampered a more integrative, perception encompassing understanding of multimodal communication: neither the multiple message nor the back-up signal hypotheses address the possibility that multimodal signals are integrated neurally into one percept. Therefore, when studying multimodal mating signals, we should be aware that they can give rise to multimodal percepts. This means that receivers can gain access to additional information inherent in combined signal components only ("the whole is something different than the sum of its parts"). We review the evidence for the importance of multimodal percepts and outline potential avenues for discovery of multimodal percepts in animal communication.
KW - Animal communication
KW - Emergent properties
KW - Mate choice
KW - Mating signals
KW - Multimodal percepts
KW - Perceptual or sensory binding
KW - Sensory integration
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85065429454&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85065429454&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fevo.2019.00124
DO - 10.3389/fevo.2019.00124
M3 - Review article
VL - 7
SP - 1
EP - 7
JO - Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
JF - Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
SN - 2296-701X
IS - APRIL
M1 - 124
ER -