Azimuthal sound localization in the chicken

Abstract

Sound localization is crucial for the survival and reproduction of animals, including non-auditory specialist animals such as the majority of avian species. The chicken (Gallus gallus) is a well-suited representative of a non-auditory specialist bird and several aspects of its auditory system have been well studied in the last decades. We conducted a behavioral experiment where 3 roosters performed a sound localization task with broad-band noise, using a 2-alternative forced choice paradigm. We determined the minimum audible angle (MAA) as measure for localization acuity. In general, our results compare to previous MAA measurements with hens in Go/NoGo tasks. The chicken has high localization acuity compared to other auditory generalist bird species tested so far. We found that chickens were better at localizing broadband noise with long duration (1 s; MAA = 16°) compared to brief duration (0.1 s; MAA = 26°). Moreover, the interaural difference in time of arrival and level (ITD and ILD, respectively) at these MAAs are comparable to what measured in other non-auditory specialist bird species, indicating that they might be sufficiently broad to be informative for azimuthal sound localization.

The Neural Representation of Binaural Sound Localization Cues Across Different Subregions of the Chicken's Inferior Colliculus

“…In fact, chickens are surprisingly precise in conditioned behavioral sound localization tests, although it can be difficult to train them and achieve proper stimulus control (Krumm et al. 2022; Maldarelli, Firzlaff, and Luksch 2022). This further supports the notion that, for the chicken, the auditory sense is not a dominant driver of fast, reflexive orienting responses but is more important for conscious behaviors driven by context and motivation.…”

Differences in the neural representation of binaural sound localization cues in the auditory midbrain of chicken and barn owl

“…Note that this does not mean that chickens do not pay attention to auditory stimuli. In fact, chickens are surprisingly precise in conditioned behavioural sound localization tests, although it can be difficult to train them and achieve proper stimulus control (Krumm et al, 2022; Maldarelli, Firzlaff, & Luksch, 2022). This further supports the notion that, for the chicken, the auditory sense is not a dominant driver of fast, reflexive orienting responses, but is more important for conscious behaviours driven by context and motivation.…”