260
D.L. Herzing
7.4 Cross-Modal and Synesthetic Work
Many communication systems are graded on multiple dimensions, not only
acoustic or single-mode, but across modalities as in the tactile and visual
modalities of humans, although other cross-senses exist (Marks 1978). The
successful use of language in both the visual and acoustic modalities, combined with the temporal analysis abilities of the dolphin brain, may reflect
on the integration of temporal patterns within the dolphins" Umweldt."
In addition to the visual and acoustic intermodal transfer, an intriguing
area for intermodal research is the tactile modality, given the size and position of the trigeminal nerve in the dolphin (Morgane and Jacobs 1972;
Schusterman 1990). Human cross-modal work has included perceptions of
size, form, space, time, and the coding of perceptual information (Marks
1978). Cross-modal translation may be ideal for reducing the processing
load of a characteristic set of information about the environment, object,
or conspecifics. Such perception may have to do with signatures of essentic
information that are modulated in many dimensions. Sentic states (Clynes
1977) and dimensions of affect have been described for human infant communication (Hauser 1996) including contour-specific features for approval,
attention, comfort, and prohibition. This indicates that the production and
perception of forms in time are modulated by emotive information, often
synesthetically by nervous system physiologic codes created by sound,
movement, and touch.
7.5 Advanced Analysis-Sequential, Signal Relations,
and Pattern Recognition
Although traditional behavioral sampling is often used in the study of delphinid communication (Altmann 1974; Slooten 1994), a neglected area of
analysis is in the rhythmic and sequential aspects of behavior and acoustics
(van Hooff 1982). Signal relations in a sequence of action may be worthy
of exploration. For example, the relative amplitude in a call or the intensity
or rate of a postural movement can add information to a sequence of
events critical for the receiver to interpret. The frequency of a signal, the
rhythm, silent pauses, differences in parameter as such as frequency or
amplitude modulation, and the sequential escalation of signals are higherlevel communicative features for accessing both social negotiation and
passive informational content. Sequential analysis has been used in human
communication and yields both time-dependent (rhythm) and timeindependent (grammar/order) aspects of communication combined into
innovative pattern recognition programs (Magnusson 1996). Sequential
analysis means that the order and temporal integrity of signals are
conserved in space and time.
The recognition of rhythmic components in dolphin communication has
been documented by both Lilly (1965) and Gish (1979). Both studies refer
D.L. Herzing
7.4 Cross-Modal and Synesthetic Work
Many communication systems are graded on multiple dimensions, not only
acoustic or single-mode, but across modalities as in the tactile and visual
modalities of humans, although other cross-senses exist (Marks 1978). The
successful use of language in both the visual and acoustic modalities, combined with the temporal analysis abilities of the dolphin brain, may reflect
on the integration of temporal patterns within the dolphins" Umweldt."
In addition to the visual and acoustic intermodal transfer, an intriguing
area for intermodal research is the tactile modality, given the size and position of the trigeminal nerve in the dolphin (Morgane and Jacobs 1972;
Schusterman 1990). Human cross-modal work has included perceptions of
size, form, space, time, and the coding of perceptual information (Marks
1978). Cross-modal translation may be ideal for reducing the processing
load of a characteristic set of information about the environment, object,
or conspecifics. Such perception may have to do with signatures of essentic
information that are modulated in many dimensions. Sentic states (Clynes
1977) and dimensions of affect have been described for human infant communication (Hauser 1996) including contour-specific features for approval,
attention, comfort, and prohibition. This indicates that the production and
perception of forms in time are modulated by emotive information, often
synesthetically by nervous system physiologic codes created by sound,
movement, and touch.
7.5 Advanced Analysis-Sequential, Signal Relations,
and Pattern Recognition
Although traditional behavioral sampling is often used in the study of delphinid communication (Altmann 1974; Slooten 1994), a neglected area of
analysis is in the rhythmic and sequential aspects of behavior and acoustics
(van Hooff 1982). Signal relations in a sequence of action may be worthy
of exploration. For example, the relative amplitude in a call or the intensity
or rate of a postural movement can add information to a sequence of
events critical for the receiver to interpret. The frequency of a signal, the
rhythm, silent pauses, differences in parameter as such as frequency or
amplitude modulation, and the sequential escalation of signals are higherlevel communicative features for accessing both social negotiation and
passive informational content. Sequential analysis has been used in human
communication and yields both time-dependent (rhythm) and timeindependent (grammar/order) aspects of communication combined into
innovative pattern recognition programs (Magnusson 1996). Sequential
analysis means that the order and temporal integrity of signals are
conserved in space and time.
The recognition of rhythmic components in dolphin communication has
been documented by both Lilly (1965) and Gish (1979). Both studies refer