Question

Provide an example of an animal (or human) in your life that uses a multimodal cue. Develop one hypothesis that aligns with the Efficacy hypotheses, and one that aligns with the Content hypotheses. Be sure to explain how each hypothesis aligns with Content or Efficacy.

Answer 1

• Humans and animals perform multimodal behavior.
• They produce and perveive signals . This affects the signalling behavior of the animal and changes the animal's perception and may lead to speciation .
• These animals /humans use multiple sensory channels to perform this multimodal behaviour.
• For eg , seeing in one channel and hearing in another channel creates emotional experiences in that person / animal. It is combination of visual and auditory inputs.

Efficacy hypothesis

• Hypothesis - In this type of selection , environment plays a major role . It states that the ability of propagation of the signals in the environment.
• Here the information perceived is read such a way that signals are perceived by the environment and depends on the other animal to the amount of receiving and acting according to the signal.
• Courtship displays are example for efficacy hypothesis.

Content hypothesis

• Hypothesis - Here the selection is based on the content ie the information provided by one organism depends on ability of other organism or animal to interpret correctly.
• When multiple messages are conveyed by an animal then the reciver will have stronger response to that particular message . So if the quality of the message is good then it can be interpretted in a correct manner.
• The signal can also be providing two information , a senders location and quality of the signaler .

Thus , selection pressures operates in such a way that how effectively the signal is received , perveived and processed from the signaler to receiver .