RECEIVER PSYCHOLOGY AND THE DESIGN OF ANIMAL SIGNALS

Animal communication is studied both by neurobiologists and by evoluti onary biologists, but in very different ways. The purpose of this arti cle is to show how both groups could benefit from a greater appreciati on of each other's approach. Evolutionary biologists should take more account of the role played by the sensory systems and brains of receiv ers in constraining the design of animal signals. Neurobiologists shou ld be more aware of recent advances in the understanding of signal-rec eiver co-evolution and the evolutionary origins of animal signals. A s eries of recent examples are cited that illustrate how pre-existing ne urophysiological or psychological properties of receiver organisms are essential to our understanding of the design characteristics of anima l signals and of their origins. Also discussed are a number of other a reas of signalling in which the study of 'receiver psychology' is like ly to be fruitful.