The evolution of the Lombard effect: 100 years of psychoacoustic research

Abstract On the occasion of the centenary of the discovery of the Lombard effect, we review the literature on noise-dependent regulation of vocal amplitude in humans and other animals. The article addresses the scientific and the biological history of the Lombard effect: first, it sketches the evolu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Behaviour 2011, Vol.148 (11-13), p.1173-1198
Main Authors: Brumm, Henrik, Zollinger, Sue Anne
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ACOUSTIC COMMUNICATION
Acoustic noise
Amniota
Animal communication
Animal vocalization
Animals
Anura
AUDITORY FEEDBACK
Auditory perception
Background noise
Bird songs
Evolution
LOMBARD EFFECT
Mammals
NOISE
Review
SIGNAL AMPLITUDE
Signal noise
VOCAL PLASTICITY
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Summary:Abstract On the occasion of the centenary of the discovery of the Lombard effect, we review the literature on noise-dependent regulation of vocal amplitude in humans and other animals. The article addresses the scientific and the biological history of the Lombard effect: first, it sketches the evolution of the study of the Lombard effect, and second it reflects on the biological evolution of the effect itself. By comparing the findings from anurans, birds and mammals, we try to trace back the phylogenetic origins of this basic vocal mechanism for acoustic communication in noise. The current evidence suggests two alternative parsimonious hypotheses: either the Lombard effect is the outcome of a convergent evolution in birds and mammals or it may be a synapomorphy of all amniotes. If the latter is true, then the Lombard effect would have evolved to maintain vocal communication in the presence of noise more than 300 million years ago.
ISSN:0005-7959
1568-539X
DOI:10.1163/000579511X605759