Generalization of learning in auditory pattern discrimination

Abstract

Frequency discrimination for tones embedded in a varying sequence of ten brief tones can be extremely poor. Yet after repeated exposure to a constant tonal sequence, listeners demonstrate discrimination of changes in a target component almost as fine as for the target tone presented alone [e.g., C. S. Watson et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 60, 1176–1186 (1976)]. It is clear, however, which aspects of the constant pattern are learned, thereby allowing the listener to overcome the effects of the surrounding tonal context on discrimination of the target. This experiment investigated generalization to new patterns of the learned target and learned context to assess their contributions to pattern discrimination. Four listeners were trained in a same‐different task to discriminate small frequency changes in a 920‐Hz target tone, which was the second element in a ten‐tone pattern. Frequency difference limens were subsequently determined for the learned target tone embedded in a different tonal context, and for diffe...