Perceptual bi-stability in auditory streaming: How much do stimulus features matter?

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Perceptual bi-stability in auditory streaming: How much do stimulus features matter? S. Denham1, Kinga Gyimesi1*, Gabor Stefanics1 and I Winkler1 1 Institute for Psychology of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences Budapest, Hungary The auditory two-tone streaming paradigm has been used extensively to study processing mechanisms that underlie the decomposition of the composite auditory input into coherent sound sequences, and hence the perception of auditory objects. Here we present new results from a study of bi-stability in auditory streaming. Using relatively long (4 minute) sequences, we show that there are two fundamentally different phases in this process. Listeners hold their first percept of the sound sequence for a relatively long period (first phase), after which perception stochastically switches between two or more alternative sound organisations, each held on average for a much shorter duration (second phase). The two perceptual phases also differ in that stimulus parameters influence perceptual behaviour to a far greater degree in the first than in the second phase, and during the second but not the first phase, there are significant periods when more than one organisation can be perceived simultaneously. Furthermore, our analysis reveals deep parallels between the dynamics of perceptual organisation in auditory streaming and binocular rivalry. We propose an account of auditory streaming in terms of rivalry between competing temporal associations. Based on the results of our experiments, we suggest that in the first perceptual phase (formation of associations), alternative interpretations of the auditory input are formed. In the second phase (coexistenceof interpretations), perception stochastically switches between the alternatives, thus maintaining perceptual flexibility. Conference: 10th International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience, Bodrum, Turkey, 1 Sep - 5 Sep, 2008. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: Perceptual Processing and Recognition Citation: Denham S, Gyimesi K, Stefanics G and Winkler I (2008). Perceptual bi-stability in auditory streaming: How much do stimulus features matter?. Conference Abstract: 10th International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience. doi: 10.3389/conf.neuro.09.2009.01.359 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 15 Dec 2008; Published Online: 15 Dec 2008. * Correspondence: Kinga Gyimesi, Institute for Psychology of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences Budapest, Budapest, Hungary, davita81@gmail.com Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers S. Denham Kinga Gyimesi Gabor Stefanics I Winkler Google S. Denham Kinga Gyimesi Gabor Stefanics I Winkler Google Scholar S. Denham Kinga Gyimesi Gabor Stefanics I Winkler PubMed S. Denham Kinga Gyimesi Gabor Stefanics I Winkler Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.