Frequency tuning and directional sensitivity of tympanal vibrations in the field cricket Gryllus bimaculatus

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2017
Authors:Lankheet, Cerkvenik, Larsen, van Leeuwen
Journal:Journal of The Royal Society Interface
Volume:14
Issue:128
Pagination:20170035
Date Published:Dec-28-20172018
ISSN:1742-5689
Abstract:

Female field crickets use phonotaxis to locate males by their calling song. Male song production and female behavioural sensitivity form a pair of matched frequency filters, which in Gryllus bimaculatus are tuned to a frequency of about 4.7 kHz. Directional sensitivity is supported by an elaborate system of acoustic tracheae, which make the ears function as pressure difference receivers. As a result, phase differences between left and right sound inputs are transformed into vibration amplitude differences. Here we critically tested the hypothesis that acoustic properties of internal transmissions play a major role in tuning directional sensitivity to the calling song frequency, by measuring tympanal vibrations as a function of sound direction and frequency. Rather than sharp frequency tuning of directional sensitivity corresponding to the calling song, we found broad frequency tuning, with optima shifted to higher frequencies. These findings agree with predictions from a vector summation model for combining external and internal sounds. We show that the model provides robust directional sensitivity that is, however, broadly tuned with an optimum well above the calling song frequency. We therefore advocate that additional filtering, e.g. at a higher (neuronal) level, significantly contributes to frequency tuning of directional sensitivity.

URL:http://rsif.royalsocietypublishing.org/lookup/doi/10.1098/rsif.2017.0035https://syndication.highwire.org/content/doi/10.1098/rsif.2017.0035
DOI:10.1098/rsif.2017.0035
Short Title:J. R. Soc. Interface
BioAcoustica ID: 
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith