Short Wave The Sound Of Fear: Why Do Animals Scream?
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Oct 30, 2024 Nate Rott, an NPR correspondent, and Dan Blumstein, a UCLA professor specializing in animal behavior, dive into the intriguing science of fear sounds. They discuss how alarm calls of yellow-bellied marmots reveal the connection between sound and survival. The conversation uncovers the psychological effects of screams on both animals and humans. From marmot shrieks to baby cries, they explore how these sounds signal distress and danger, and even touch on the evolutionary roots of fear in human behavior, blending science with fun Halloween themes.
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Marmot Research Sparks Curiosity
- While researching marmots, Dan Blumstein heard an alarming sound.
- This unusual vocalization prompted him to study the science of fear.
Screams vs. Alarm Calls
- Screams differ from typical alarm calls due to nonlinear attributes.
- These are irregularities in sound produced when vocal folds are overblown.
Universality of Screams
- Nonlinearities in screams make them attention-grabbing across species.
- Even animals that do not vocalize, like lizards, respond to these sounds.
