Evidence for mutual allocation of social attention through interactive signaling in a mormyrid weakly electric fish

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1801283115
• Publication Date: 2018-06-11T19:21:43Z
• Authors: Martin Worm; Tim Landgraf; Julia Prume; Hai Nguyen; Frank Kirschbaum; Gerhard von der Emde
• Keywords: Electric fish; Electroreception

Mormyrid weakly electric fish produce organ discharges (EODs) for active electrolocation and electrocommunication. These pulses are emitted with variable interdischarge intervals (IDIs) resulting in temporal discharge patterns interactive signaling episodes nearby conspecifics. However, unequivocal assignment of to a specific behavioral context has proven be challenging. Using an ethorobotical approach, we confronted single individuals Mormyrus rume proboscirostris mobile robot capable interacting both physically, on arbitrary trajectories, as well electrically, by generating echo responses through playback species-specific EODs, thus synchronizing signals the fish. Interactive was more pronounced response dynamic generated than static random IDI sequences. Such synchronizations were particularly strong at distance corresponding outer limit electrolocation, when oriented toward replica. We therefore argue that echoing conspecific's EODs provides simple mechanism which can specifically address during Echoing may enable mormyrids mutually allocate social attention constitute foundation complex behavior relatively advanced cognitive abilities basal vertebrate lineage.