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Science 26 May 1989:
Vol. 244. no. 4907, pp. 976 - 978
DOI: 10.1126/science.2727689
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Articles

Science, Vol 244, Issue 4907, 976-978
Copyright © 1989 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

Categorical perception of a natural stimulus continuum: birdsong

DA Nelson and P Marler

Rockefeller University, Millbrook, NY 12545.

A fundamental issue in perception and communication is how continuously varying stimuli are partitioned into discrete categories. In swamp sparrow songs, note duration is a critical feature distinguishing two note categories with different roles in song construction. Pairs of songs with initial notes from different categories contrast more in their effects on territorial males than song pairs with initial notes differing by the same amount but taken from within one note category. The results indicate categorical perception by wild swamp sparrows.


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