Behavioral effects of rhythm, carrier frequency and temporal cueing on the perception of sound sequences.

ABSTRACT: Regularity of acoustic rhythms allows predicting a target embedded within a stream thereby improving detection performance and reaction times in spectral detection tasks. In two experiments we examine whether temporal regularity enhances perceptual sensitivity and reduces reaction times using a temporal shift detection task. Participants detected temporal shifts embedded at different positions within a sequence of quintet-sounds. Narrowband quintets were centered around carrier frequencies of 200 Hz, 1100 Hz, or 3100 Hz and presented at presentation rates between 1-8 Hz. We compared rhythmic sequences to control conditions where periodicity was reduced or absent and tested whether perceptual benefits depend on the presentation rate, the spectral content of the sounds, and task difficulty.

SUBMITTER: Heynckes M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7274376 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature