Interference effects in tone memory

Abstract

Memory for a standard tone in comparison to a subsequent test tone was examined in three experiments with three intervening tones between the standard and test tones. In each trial, the intervening tones were presented from one of seven frequency range and distance from the standard tone conditions. Experiment 1 tone patterns were played at four different presentation rates, and the subjects judged whether the test was higher or lower than the standard. Memory interference effects caused by the different intervening tone conditions could be accounted for by a directional shift in the standard tone memory toward the intervening tones and by a general decrease in the standard tone memory strength with more distant intervening tones. Interference effects were smaller for the rapid presentation rates because the intervening tones formed separate "perceptual streams." Two additional experiments presented the tone patterns in a task requiring the subjects to match a continuously variable tone to their memory of the standard (Experiment 2) and a task requiring them to judge whether the standard and test tones were the "same" or "different" (Experiment 3). These experiments showed large differences in interference effects as a function of the required judgment and the subjects' musical experience.