Auditory duration discrimination in the European starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

Auditory duration discrimination was studied in the European starling (Sturnus vulgaris, n = 3) using a GO/NOGO-procedure. Acoustic signals were presented by the method of constant stimuli. Duration discrimination limens (DDLs) were determined using signal detection theory (threshold criterion d' = 1.8). Weber fractions delta T/T = 0.23 for reference durations of between 800 and 100 ms, respectively. The DDLs for reference durations of 400 and 200 ms did not differ from those of 800 ms. There was no effect of tone frequency. Weber fractions delta T/T for a decrease in duration were independent of the reference durations and the frequencies tested (average delta T/T = 0.19). Duration discrimination is discussed with respect to data from other animals, and to hypotheses on the perception of signal duration.