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Confusion and human errors in locating synthetic frog calls: Insights into the evolution of a vocal communication signal.

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Title: Confusion and human errors in locating synthetic frog calls: Insights into the evolution of a vocal communication signal.
Authors: Faizpurkar H; Biological and Life Sciences Division, School of Arts and Sciences, Ahmedabad University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India., Jones DL; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA., Ratnam R; Biological and Life Sciences Division, School of Arts and Sciences, Ahmedabad University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. rama.ratnam@ahduni.edu.in.
Source: Journal of comparative physiology. A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology [J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol] 2026 Sep; Vol. 212 (5), pp. 855-867. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 May 03.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: Springer Country of Publication: Germany NLM ID: 101141792 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1432-1351 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 03407594 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Original Publication: Berlin ; New York : Springer, c2001-
MeSH Terms: Vocalization, Animal*/physiology , Anura*/physiology , Sound Localization*/physiology , Biological Evolution*, Animals ; Humans ; Acoustic Stimulation ; Male
Abstract: Vocal communication behavior in anurans is energetically expensive and can reveal caller locations, making them vulnerable to predation. Thus, it is likely that calls have been selected to minimize energy and make signals difficult to locate. In earlier work, Jones and Ratnam (2023) suggested that differences in the acoustic receivers of anurans and mammals may be exploited to make anuran calls difficult for mammals to locate, thereby reducing some if not all predation pressure. To test some of these ideas, this study examined sound localization performance in human listeners in response to a synthetic narrowband frog call (pulsed calls of the gray treefrog Dryophytes versicolor, 28% duty-cycle) and its variations, in a dichotic listening task using interaural time differences (ITD) alone. Sounds which were easy to locate (positive control) and difficult to locate (negative control) were also tested. Localization performance in response to synthetic calls (64%) lay between those of positive control (86%) and negative control (32%, chance level). We argue that differences in performance were largely a function of call bandwidth. Among all the variations of calls that were tested (excluding controls), the synthetic call most closely resembling the gray treefrog call had the lowest call energy, the narrowest spectral bandwidth, and was the most difficult to localize. We suggest that calls may have been selected to keep their energy as low as possible by reducing their duty cycle and reducing spectral leakage to maintain narrowband characteristics.
(© 2026. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)
Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflcit of interest: The authors declare no competing interests.
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J Exp Biol. 2001 Apr;204(Pt 7):1223-32. (PMID: 11249833)
Nature. 1990 Jan 4;343(6253):66-7. (PMID: 2296291)
J Acoust Soc Am. 1974 Dec;56(6):1862-5. (PMID: 4443485)
Biol Cybern. 2016 Oct;110(4-5):263-270. (PMID: 27699483)
Behav Neurosci. 2019 Jun;133(3):329-340. (PMID: 31045394)
Hear Res. 2011 Mar;273(1-2):37-45. (PMID: 20727396)
Brain Res. 2006 May 30;1092(1):161-76. (PMID: 16684510)
J Exp Biol. 2011 Sep 1;214(Pt 17):2911-8. (PMID: 21832134)
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Jan 21;100(2):577-80. (PMID: 12515862)
Annu Rev Psychol. 1991;42:135-59. (PMID: 2018391)
J Acoust Soc Am. 2022 May;151(5):3409. (PMID: 35649940)
J Comp Physiol Psychol. 1948 Feb;41(1):35-9. (PMID: 18904764)
J Comp Physiol A. 2000 May;186(5):481-8. (PMID: 10879950)
Hear Res. 1996 Nov 1;101(1-2):102-12. (PMID: 8951437)
J Exp Biol. 2002 Oct;205(Pt 20):3153-65. (PMID: 12235195)
J Acoust Soc Am. 2014 Nov;136(5):2737-46. (PMID: 25373973)
Behav Res Methods. 2019 Feb;51(1):195-203. (PMID: 30734206)
Hear Res. 1981 Nov;5(2-3):201-16. (PMID: 6975773)
J Acoust Soc Am. 2021 May;149(5):3133. (PMID: 34241105)
Physiol Rev. 2010 Jul;90(3):983-1012. (PMID: 20664077)
Hear Res. 2012 Jan;283(1-2):70-9. (PMID: 22146424)
Hear Res. 2006 Feb;212(1-2):140-59. (PMID: 16426781)
J Comp Neurol. 1992 Aug 8;322(2):191-200. (PMID: 1522248)
J Comp Neurol. 1992 Mar 15;317(3):219-32. (PMID: 1577997)
Science. 1976 Apr 23;192(4237):378-80. (PMID: 1257772)
Hear Res. 1994 Oct;80(1):71-8. (PMID: 7852205)
Hear Res. 1990 Aug 1;47(1-2):103-38. (PMID: 2228789)
J Exp Biol. 2006 Jan;209(Pt 2):302-13. (PMID: 16391352)
J Acoust Soc Am. 2014 Feb;135(2):817-23. (PMID: 25234890)
J Exp Biol. 2002 Oct;205(Pt 20):3167-76. (PMID: 12235196)
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Sep 10;110(37):15151-6. (PMID: 23980161)
Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis. 2018 Aug;135(4):259-264. (PMID: 29731298)
Grant Information: URBSASI20A5 Ahmedabad University
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: Anuran vocalization; Dichotic testing; Interaural time difference; Signal detection theory; Time-frequency trade-off
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20260503 Date Completed: 20261006 Latest Revision: 20261010
Update Code: 20261010
DOI: 10.1007/s00359-026-01810-8
PMID: 42070177
Database: MEDLINE
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  – Url: https://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1007/s00359-026-01810-8
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  Data: Confusion and human errors in locating synthetic frog calls: Insights into the evolution of a vocal communication signal.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Faizpurkar+H%22">Faizpurkar H</searchLink>; Biological and Life Sciences Division, School of Arts and Sciences, Ahmedabad University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Jones+DL%22">Jones DL</searchLink>; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Ratnam+R%22">Ratnam R</searchLink>; Biological and Life Sciences Division, School of Arts and Sciences, Ahmedabad University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. rama.ratnam@ahduni.edu.in.
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– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Vocal communication behavior in anurans is energetically expensive and can reveal caller locations, making them vulnerable to predation. Thus, it is likely that calls have been selected to minimize energy and make signals difficult to locate. In earlier work, Jones and Ratnam (2023) suggested that differences in the acoustic receivers of anurans and mammals may be exploited to make anuran calls difficult for mammals to locate, thereby reducing some if not all predation pressure. To test some of these ideas, this study examined sound localization performance in human listeners in response to a synthetic narrowband frog call (pulsed calls of the gray treefrog Dryophytes versicolor, 28% duty-cycle) and its variations, in a dichotic listening task using interaural time differences (ITD) alone. Sounds which were easy to locate (positive control) and difficult to locate (negative control) were also tested. Localization performance in response to synthetic calls (64%) lay between those of positive control (86%) and negative control (32%, chance level). We argue that differences in performance were largely a function of call bandwidth. Among all the variations of calls that were tested (excluding controls), the synthetic call most closely resembling the gray treefrog call had the lowest call energy, the narrowest spectral bandwidth, and was the most difficult to localize. We suggest that calls may have been selected to keep their energy as low as possible by reducing their duty cycle and reducing spectral leakage to maintain narrowband characteristics.<br /> (© 2026. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)
– Name: Abstract
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  Data: Declarations. Conflcit of interest: The authors declare no competing interests.
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  Label: References
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  Data: Hear Res. 1999 Jun;132(1-2):117-30. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2210392554%22">10392554)</searchLink><br />J Exp Biol. 2001 Apr;204(Pt 7):1223-32. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2211249833%22">11249833)</searchLink><br />Nature. 1990 Jan 4;343(6253):66-7. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%222296291%22">2296291)</searchLink><br />J Acoust Soc Am. 1974 Dec;56(6):1862-5. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%224443485%22">4443485)</searchLink><br />Biol Cybern. 2016 Oct;110(4-5):263-270. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2227699483%22">27699483)</searchLink><br />Behav Neurosci. 2019 Jun;133(3):329-340. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2231045394%22">31045394)</searchLink><br />Hear Res. 2011 Mar;273(1-2):37-45. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2220727396%22">20727396)</searchLink><br />Brain Res. 2006 May 30;1092(1):161-76. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2216684510%22">16684510)</searchLink><br />J Exp Biol. 2011 Sep 1;214(Pt 17):2911-8. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2221832134%22">21832134)</searchLink><br />Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Jan 21;100(2):577-80. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2212515862%22">12515862)</searchLink><br />Annu Rev Psychol. 1991;42:135-59. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%222018391%22">2018391)</searchLink><br />J Acoust Soc Am. 2022 May;151(5):3409. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2235649940%22">35649940)</searchLink><br />J Comp Physiol Psychol. 1948 Feb;41(1):35-9. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2218904764%22">18904764)</searchLink><br />J Comp Physiol A. 2000 May;186(5):481-8. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2210879950%22">10879950)</searchLink><br />Hear Res. 1996 Nov 1;101(1-2):102-12. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%228951437%22">8951437)</searchLink><br />J Exp Biol. 2002 Oct;205(Pt 20):3153-65. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2212235195%22">12235195)</searchLink><br />J Acoust Soc Am. 2014 Nov;136(5):2737-46. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2225373973%22">25373973)</searchLink><br />Behav Res Methods. 2019 Feb;51(1):195-203. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2230734206%22">30734206)</searchLink><br />Hear Res. 1981 Nov;5(2-3):201-16. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%226975773%22">6975773)</searchLink><br />J Acoust Soc Am. 2021 May;149(5):3133. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2234241105%22">34241105)</searchLink><br />Physiol Rev. 2010 Jul;90(3):983-1012. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2220664077%22">20664077)</searchLink><br />Hear Res. 2012 Jan;283(1-2):70-9. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2222146424%22">22146424)</searchLink><br />Hear Res. 2006 Feb;212(1-2):140-59. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2216426781%22">16426781)</searchLink><br />J Comp Neurol. 1992 Aug 8;322(2):191-200. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%221522248%22">1522248)</searchLink><br />J Comp Neurol. 1992 Mar 15;317(3):219-32. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%221577997%22">1577997)</searchLink><br />Science. 1976 Apr 23;192(4237):378-80. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%221257772%22">1257772)</searchLink><br />Hear Res. 1994 Oct;80(1):71-8. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%227852205%22">7852205)</searchLink><br />Hear Res. 1990 Aug 1;47(1-2):103-38. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%222228789%22">2228789)</searchLink><br />J Exp Biol. 2006 Jan;209(Pt 2):302-13. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2216391352%22">16391352)</searchLink><br />J Acoust Soc Am. 2014 Feb;135(2):817-23. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2225234890%22">25234890)</searchLink><br />J Exp Biol. 2002 Oct;205(Pt 20):3167-76. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2212235196%22">12235196)</searchLink><br />Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Sep 10;110(37):15151-6. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2223980161%22">23980161)</searchLink><br />Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis. 2018 Aug;135(4):259-264. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2229731298%22">29731298)</searchLink>
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