Signal detection: applying analysis methods from psychology to animal behaviour

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Sumner, C.J. ORCID: 0000-0002-2573-7418 and Sumner, S., 2020. Signal detection: applying analysis methods from psychology to animal behaviour. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences. ISSN 0080-4622

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2019-0480

Abstract

Conspecific acceptance thresholds (CAT) [1], which have been widely applied to explain ecological behaviour in animals, proposed how sensory information, prior information and the costs of decisions determine actions. Signal detection theory ([2]; SDT), which forms the basis of CAT models, has been widely used in psychological studies to partition the ability to discriminate sensory information from the action made as a result of it. In this article we will review the application of SDT in interpreting the behaviour of laboratory animals trained in operant conditioning tasks, and then consider its potential in ecological studies of animal behaviour in natural environments. Focusing on the nestmate recognition systems exhibited by social insects, we show how the quantitative application of signal detection theory has the potential to transform acceptance rate data into independent indices of cue sensitivity and decision criterion (also known as the acceptance threshold). However, further tests of the assumptions underlying SDT analysis are required. Overall, we argue that SDT, as conventionally applied in psychological studies, may provide clearer insights into the mechanistic basis of decision making and information processing in behavioural ecology.

Item Type:

Journal article

Publication Title:

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences

Creators:

Sumner, C.J. and Sumner, S.

Publisher:

The Royal Society

Date:

18 May 2020

ISSN:

0080-4622