Relative contribution of frequency and duration cues to estimates of frequency change in tone sequences and glides.

Abstract

This research compared use of frequency and duration cues in magnitude estimates of frequency change (velocity). In two experiments, listeners rated how quickly tone sequences (Experiment 1) or glides (Experiment 2) changed in frequency on a scale ranging from 0 (not changing at all) to 100 (changing very quickly). In both experiments, velocity was specified in terms of semitones per second (ST/s), with ascending and descending stimuli presented at one of eight velocities on each trial (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 ST/s) with a variable starting frequency. Frequency and duration cues to velocity were varied orthogonally. The different stimulus velocities (Δf/Δt) were created by either holding Δt constant and varying Δf (frequency cue condition) or by holding Δf constant and varying Δt (duration cue condition). For tone sequences, magnitude estimates of velocity were based almost entirely on duration cues, with very little contribution of frequency cues. This finding contrasted with magnitude estimates of glides where both duration and frequency cues were equally effective at conveying velocity information.