Perceptual organization of complex auditory sequences: Effect of number of simultaneous subsequences and frequency separation

Author(s): Drake, C., Botte, M. C., McAdams, S.

Journal/Book: J Exp Psychol Hum Percep Perf. 1999; 25: 750 First St NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242, USA. Amer Psychological Assoc. 1742-1759.

Abstract: Previous findings on streaming are generalized to sequences composed of more than 2 subsequences. A new paradigm identified whether listeners perceive complex sequences as a single unit (integrative listening) or segregate them into 2 (or more) perceptual units (stream segregation). Listeners heard 2 complex sequences, each composed of 1, 2, 3, or 4 subsequences. Their task was to detect a temporal irregularity within 1 subsequence. In Experiment I, the smallest frequency separation under which listeners were able to focus on 1 subsequence was unaffected by the number of co-occurring subsequences; nonfocused sounds were nor perceptually organized into streams. In Experiment 2, detection improved progressively, not abruptly, as the frequency separation between subsequences increased from 0.25 to 6 auditory filters. The authors propose a model of perceptual organization of complex auditory sequences.

Note: Article Brochard R, Univ Keele, Dept Psychol, Newcastle Under Lyme ST5 5BG, Staffs, ENGLAND

Keyword(s): STREAM SEGREGATION; INTERLEAVED MELODIES; DISCRIMINATION; ATTENTION; TIME; PATTERNS; RHYTHM; TONES; MUSIC

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