Acoustic and electric communication differ in one important respect: while acoustic communication signals propagate through air or water as a wave, electric signals do not propagate, but exist instead as electrostatic fields. As a result of propagation, acoustic signals are distorted during transmission in a largely unpredictable way. Sound receivers, therefore, may not be able to recognize fine details in the waveform of an acoustic signal, but may have to rely instead upon time intervals between repetitions of a waveform, on the frequency of a signal, or on frequency modulations. By contrast, non-propagating electric communication signals are immune to many sources of signal distortion that affect sounds. Consequently, electric signal receivers may reliably use waveform cues to recognize a sender''s identity and discriminate between signals. As examples, mormyrid electric fish encode species and sex differences in the fine structure of the electric organ discharge waveform and sense the differences using temporal cues. Gymnotiform pulse-discharging electric fish may employ scan-sampling for waveform analysis: a specialized mechanism analogous to a digital sampling oscilloscope for slowly scanning a repetitive waveform.

Keywords:
Electric fish, Electric communication, Acoustic communication, Sound transmission, Temporal coding, Species recognition
This content is only available via PDF.
© 1986 S. Karger AG, Basel
1986
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.