Infants' discrimination of bimodal events on the basis of rhythm and tempo

Author(s): Bahrick, L. E.

Journal/Book: Brit J Develop Psychol. 1995; 13: St Andrews House, 48, Princess Rd, East, Leicester, Leics, England LE1 7DR. British Psychological Soc. 223-236.

Abstract: A habituation procedure was used to examine 7-month-old infants' discrimination of changes in the rhythm (Expt 1) or the tempo (Expt 2) of an auditory-visual event. Events consisted of videos of a hammer striking a surface displaying a characteristic rhythm and tempo along with the synchronized impact sounds. In Expt 1, 32 infants were habituated to one rhythm presented at a constant tempo followed by test trials of a novel rhythm presented at the familiar tempo. Across subjects, four different stimulus rhythms were presented at each of four different constant tempos. Infants demonstrated significant visual recovery to a novel rhythm at all stimulus tempos. In Expr 2, 32 infants were habituated to events displaying one rhythm and tempo followed by test trials presenting a novel tempo and the familiar rhythm. Infants showed a significant visual recovery to a novel tempo, which was apparent across four different underlying rhythm contexts. More robust discrimination was observed for more extreme tempo contrasts. These data suggest that 7-month-old infants are sensitive to the invariant rhythm and tempo of bimodal events.

Note: Article J Pickens, James Madison Univ, Dept Psychol, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 USA

Keyword(s): AUDITORY-VISUAL COMPOUNDS; 4-MONTH-OLD INFANTS; SENSORY DOMINANCE; PERCEPTION; FREQUENCY; 6-MONTH-OLD; MELODIES; PATTERN; CONTOUR; MOTION

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