Mechanisms of signal reliability and assessment

不诚实的交流在包括人类在内的动物王国中普遍存在，但人们对产生不诚实信号的机制知之甚少。同样，研究人员也不清楚诚实和不诚实的沟通是如何在包括我们自己的沟通系统中稳定共存的。本研究的核心问题是不诚实如何改变沟通信号的含义。为了解决这个问题，该项目着重于(i)信号的不诚实和信号的生理成本如何改变通信信号的可靠性和意义，以及（ii）听众如何评估不准确传达其特定品质的信号发布者的质量。本项目研究电鱼的信号夸大，这是一个理想的模型系统，因为它们的信号可以以不同寻常的准确性量化并进行药理学操作。方法包括电生理学、能量输出测量、内分泌学和行为实验。本项目(1)量化信号发送者用来控制信号强度的三种机制，(2)确定不同社会背景下信号强度的行为意义和可靠性，(3)确定接收者如何评估和使用被夸大改变的信息，以及(4)使用这些信息来解决和修改通信系统如何在面对不诚实和不可靠时持续存在的理论。这项研究项目的资源将用于促进科学教育。我们将协助中学科学教师设计更具吸引力的实践课程，并为少数民族大学生和高中生提供直接指导的机会，从而实现这一目标。

Dishonest communication is widespread throughout in the animal kingdom, including humans, but mechanisms that produce dishonest signals are poorly understood. Likewise, researchers do not clearly understand how honest and dishonest communication coexists stably in communication systems, including our own. The central question in this study is how dishonesty alters the meaning of communication signals. To address this question, the project focuses on (i) how signal dishonesty and the physiological costs of signaling alter the reliability and meaning of communication signals, and (ii) how listeners assess the quality of signalers who inaccurately convey their particular qualities. This project investigates signal exaggeration by electric fish, an ideal model system because their signals can be quantified with unusual accuracy and manipulated pharmacologically. Methods will include electrophysiology, measurement of energetic output, endocrinology, and behavioral experiments. This project (1) quantifies three mechanisms that signalers use to control signal strength, (2) determines the behavioral meaning and reliability of signal strength under different social contexts, (3) determines how receivers assess and use information that has been altered by exaggeration, and (4) uses this information to address and revise theory of how communication systems can persist in the face of dishonesty and unreliability. The resources of this research project will be used to foster science education. This goal will be approached by assisting middle-school science teachers in devising a more engaging hands-on curriculum and by providing opportunities for direct mentorship of minority college and high school students.