Processing of log and linear rippled spectra

Abstract

In addition to iterated rippled-noise (IRN) stimuli which are characterized as stimuli with regularly spaced spectral peaks and valleys on a linear frequency axis, many studies have investigated stimuli that have regularly spaced spectral peaks and valleys on a logarithmic axis. Both set of stimuli produce a timbre/pitch-like sound quality, but only the pitch quality of linear-rippled stimuli has been described. In some cases the sound quality of the two types of stimuli are difficult to perceptually separate. While models of pitch processing (e.g., autocorrelation-based models) can account for many of the IRN pitch data, it is not clear what mechanisms produce the timbre/pitch-like qualities of log-frequency, rippled-spectra stimuli. The current paper involves three experiments designed to better understand auditory processing of rippled-spectra stimuli in order to determine if there may be some common perceptual elements that underlie the perception of such stimuli.