“Phantom Words” are heard more frequently as coming from the right side of space

Abstract

To experience the “Phantom Words” illusion (Deutsch, 2003) the listener sits in front of two loudspeakers, with one to the left and the other to the right. A sequence is repeatedly presented consisting of two monosyllabic words, or one word composed of two syllables. The sequences coming from both loudspeakers are identical; however, they are offset in time so that when the first sound (word or syllable) is coming from the speaker on the right the second sound is coming from the speaker on the left; and vice versa. Listeners generally perceive different illusory words and phrases, and those appearing as from the right are often different from those appearing as from the left. Here, 20 righthanders and 20 non-righthanders (left-handers and mixed handers) listened to seven such sequences. For each handedness group, ten subjects were seated facing the loudspeakers and ten were seated facing the opposite direction. There was a highly significant tendency for righthanders to hear illusory words and phrases as coming from their right, regardless of their orientation relative to the loudspeakers. Non-righthanders also showed this tendency, but it was less pronounced. Implications for cerebral dominance are here discussed, and illusory sequences are presented as sound examples.