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D.L. Herzing
4.1.3 Deciphering
The deciphering of environmental and social signals is dependent on feedback from experienced individuals and direct experience of the perceiver.
Pertinent to young dolphins is exposure to the milieu and repertoire of
passive information and their abilities to observe the contextual reactions
of their mother, siblings, and conspecifics. Although social learning has
been emphasized in cultural transmisson of information, higher mammals
depend on exposure to a rich repertoire of signals, in multiple modalities,
before production and modification of functional signals transpires.
The role of audience and feedback in categorizing relevant cues in
the environment must be important during development. Generalizations
about signals in the world (e.g., alarm calls and postural cues) may need to
be refined and confirmed by more experienced conspecifics and may help
to exemplify the meaning of signals. The importance of signal relations, not
just the structure of the signal itself, form an intricate and complex web of
information to filter (Johnson 1993). Escalation of behavior, relative rates,
sameness or difference, strength, and timing of signals all convey important
information.
Alignment of attention and shared coordination is key to the synchrony
of behavior for mutual goals in dolphins including shared attention and
referential pointing (Xitco 1996). Conspecifics that are within an acceptable
angle and proximity to an echolocating dolphin can eavesdrop to supplement their information (Xitco and Roitblat 1996). In addition, the ability
to detect salient features or essential signature information is evidenced in
phantom echo experiments (Au and Moore 1988).
Evidence that dolphins may share sonar information, that they may be
able to eavesdrop and infer locations of prey or conspecific behavioral
activity by listening, and that they interpret echoes or social signals to maximize their information about the environment or changing social conditions all supports the potential importance of observational learning in
delphinid society. How do dolphins learn to understand acoustic signals,
how do they learn to produce them, and how do they learn their appropriate social use? Do socially interacting dolphins have liabilities around
expressing too much information about their emotive state, identity, or
status of confrontation?
5. The Development of Signals and Possible
Transmission Mechanisms
After looking at the sensory envelope required to survive by adults, we can
begin to see how young dolphins might begin to decipher their environment. During their lives, young S. frontalis are exposed to a variety of
sensory signals, including acoustic, visual, and tactile, and social interactions,
D.L. Herzing
4.1.3 Deciphering
The deciphering of environmental and social signals is dependent on feedback from experienced individuals and direct experience of the perceiver.
Pertinent to young dolphins is exposure to the milieu and repertoire of
passive information and their abilities to observe the contextual reactions
of their mother, siblings, and conspecifics. Although social learning has
been emphasized in cultural transmisson of information, higher mammals
depend on exposure to a rich repertoire of signals, in multiple modalities,
before production and modification of functional signals transpires.
The role of audience and feedback in categorizing relevant cues in
the environment must be important during development. Generalizations
about signals in the world (e.g., alarm calls and postural cues) may need to
be refined and confirmed by more experienced conspecifics and may help
to exemplify the meaning of signals. The importance of signal relations, not
just the structure of the signal itself, form an intricate and complex web of
information to filter (Johnson 1993). Escalation of behavior, relative rates,
sameness or difference, strength, and timing of signals all convey important
information.
Alignment of attention and shared coordination is key to the synchrony
of behavior for mutual goals in dolphins including shared attention and
referential pointing (Xitco 1996). Conspecifics that are within an acceptable
angle and proximity to an echolocating dolphin can eavesdrop to supplement their information (Xitco and Roitblat 1996). In addition, the ability
to detect salient features or essential signature information is evidenced in
phantom echo experiments (Au and Moore 1988).
Evidence that dolphins may share sonar information, that they may be
able to eavesdrop and infer locations of prey or conspecific behavioral
activity by listening, and that they interpret echoes or social signals to maximize their information about the environment or changing social conditions all supports the potential importance of observational learning in
delphinid society. How do dolphins learn to understand acoustic signals,
how do they learn to produce them, and how do they learn their appropriate social use? Do socially interacting dolphins have liabilities around
expressing too much information about their emotive state, identity, or
status of confrontation?
5. The Development of Signals and Possible
Transmission Mechanisms
After looking at the sensory envelope required to survive by adults, we can
begin to see how young dolphins might begin to decipher their environment. During their lives, young S. frontalis are exposed to a variety of
sensory signals, including acoustic, visual, and tactile, and social interactions,