Modulation rate transfer functions to low-frequency carriers in three species of cetaceans

A temporal modulation rate transfer function (MRTF) is a quantitative description of the ability of a system to follow the temporal envelope of a stimulating waveform. In this study MRTFs were obtained from three cetacean species: the false killer whale Pseudorca crassidens; the beluga whale Delphinapterus leucas; and the bottlenosed dolphin Tursiops truncatus, using auditory-evoked potentials. Steady-state electrophysiological responses were recorded noninvasively from behaving, alert animals using suction cup electrodes placed on the scalp surface. Responses were elicited using continuous two-tone (TT) and sinusoidally amplitude-modulated (SAM) stimuli. MRTFs were obtained for modulation frequencies ranging from 18–4019 Hz using carrier and primary frequencies of 500, 1000, 4000, and 10000 Hz. Scalp potentials followed the low-frequency temporal envelope of the stimulating waveform; this envelope following response (EFR) was the dependent variable in all experiments. MRTFs were generally low-pass in shape with corner frequencies between approximately 1–2 kHz.

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