Dolphin communication - A computational approach to decipher dolphins language

A computational approach for studying dolphin communication Dolphins use vocal signals to communicate via two different types of sounds: pure tones and pulsed sounds. Pure tones are frequency modulated sounds such as whistles, chirps and screams. Dolphins produce whistles in social contexts. For example, individual dolphins have their own “signature whistle” or “names” that are produced by other members of the group. Pulsed sounds are clicks generated at regular brief intervals, and are used for echolocation. These clicks can be sometimes generated at high frequencies (short intervals), and are thought to carry information about emotional states. For this project, we intend to record dolphin sounds and monitor their behaviour in a quasi-natural environment. We intend to find correlations between specific sound properties and certain types of behaviours to learn basic principles underlying dolphin communication. As part of the proposed internship project, the student will work within the framework of a collaboration between the labs of German Sumbre (Neurosciences, IBENS), Gonzalo de Polavieja (Champalimaud, Portugal) and the Dolphin reef (Israel). The student will be supervised by German Sumbre, but he/she will spend some time at the de Polavieja lab to learn techniques on AI, and at the dolphin reef, to familiarize with the dolphins, improve the video and acoustic recordings. For more information contact German Sumbre at sumbre@ens.fr