Artificial Sounds Research Articles

Research on the regulation of emotions in elderly people through bedroom audio-visual environments

The indoor environment of buildings has a long-term impact on the psychological and physiological state of people, and a good indoor environment can help the physical and mental health of the elderly. As the mobility of the elderly weakens, the indoor visual and auditory environments are important channels for them to acquire external perceptions. In order to investigate the effects of visual and auditory environments on the psychological (positive and negative emotions) and physiological (heart rate) states of older adults in their bedrooms, the study designed an audio-visual interaction experiment, selecting three common sounds preferred by older adults and six visual scenes that included two types of visual factors , to measure the emotions and heart rate changes under different sound and visual interaction conditions. The study revealed that natural sounds were more effective in positively modulating mood in warm-toned rooms, while artificial sounds were more appropriate for cool-toned rooms. Regardless of the type of therapeutic sound environment, the addition of greenery significantly contributes to mood regulation in older adults. Combining sound environments with visual factors can be an effective design strategy to promote the physical and mental health of occupants.

Exploring the impact of university green spaces on Students' perceived restoration and emotional states through audio-visual perception

A growing body of evidence suggests that university green space (UGS) can substantially enhance students' perceived restoration. This study employed virtual reality technology to assess the characteristics of audio-visual elements in three types of UGS, then utilized Peason correlation analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) to explored environmental audio-visual perception, perceived restoration, and their associations with emotional state. Findings indicate that: (1) Within the same UGS type, the dominance of different audio-visual elements was relatively consistent across various locations. However, there were differences among different UGS types: artificial sounds were dominant in Commuter Green Spaces, while natural sounds were more prominent in Natural Green Spaces, and the perception trends for visual elements were similar to those of the sound sources. (2) Soundscape pleasantness was significantly positively correlated with three dimensions of perceived restoration and positive emotion, negatively correlated with negative emotion, and had similar findings to soundscape pleasantness in visual perception and soundscape eventfulness. (3) The SEM results showed that soundscape pleasantness and eventfulness could directly influence visual perception and positive emotion. In addition, our study also found a cascading mediating effect with visual perception and perceived restoration as core elements. These findings deepen our understanding of how audio-visual perceptions influence emotional restoration and well-being, potentially enhancing both student experiences and the quality of UGS. Furthermore, the findings underscore the complexities involved in perception assessment, influenced by variations in social backgrounds, cultural factors, and individual characteristics. This emphasizes the need for future research to consider these variables comprehensively, aiming to provide a deeper understanding of the specific physical attributes of restorative environments.

People follow motivation-structural rules when they react to synthetised sounds

Emotionally expressive vocalizations can elicit approach-avoidance responses in humans and non-human animals. We investigated whether artificially generated sounds have similar effects on humans. We assessed whether subjects' reactions were linked to acoustic properties, and associated valence and intensity. We generated 343 artificial sounds with differing call lengths, fundamental frequencies and added acoustic features across 7 categories and 3 levels of biological complexity. We assessed the hypothetical behavioural response using an online questionnaire with a manikin task, in which 172 participants indicated whether they would approach or withdraw from an object emitting the sound. (1) Quieter sounds elicited approach, while loud sounds were associated with avoidance. (2) The effect of pitch was modulated by category, call length and loudness. (2a) Low-pitched sounds in complex sound categories prompted avoidance, while in other categories they elicited approach. (2b) Higher pitch in loud sounds had a distancing effect, while higher pitch in quieter sounds prompted approach. (2c) Longer sounds promoted avoidance, especially at high frequencies. (3) Sounds with higher intensity and negative valence elicited avoidance. We conclude that biologically based acoustic signals can be used to regulate the distance between social robots and humans, which can provide an advantage in interactive scenarios.

Exploring the effects of soundscape perception on place attachment: A comparative study of residents and tourists

The critical role of soundscapes in nurturing place attachment, affecting individuals' emotional ties and perceptions of specific locations, has been historically undervalued. In this case, this study examined the profound interrelationships between soundscapes and human connections to place, with a focus on the contrasting perspectives of residents and visitors. Based on on-site surveys on Kulangsu Island involving both groups, this research examined the difference in soundscape perception and place attachment as well as their relationships between the two groups. The findings revealed that residents and visitors showed a shared inclination towards natural sounds alongside the recognition of artificial sounds, while a significant divide emerged in the evaluation of overall soundscapes. Residents displayed a heightened sense of place attachment compared to visitors, characterized by feelings of belongingness and uniqueness. Notably, visitors' place attachment was closely tied to various soundscape evaluation indicators, particularly correlated with the perception of artificial and mechanical sounds. In contrast, residents' place attachment is independent of soundscape evaluations, while is influenced positively by the preference for natural sounds. This contrast underscores the differing perspectives and objectives between the two groups. The results facilitate a deeper understanding of the pivotal role of soundscapes in shaping human-place relationships, informing both academic discourse and practical applications.

Neuromagnetic representation of musical roundness in chord progressions.

Musical roundness perception relies on consonance/dissonance within a rule-based harmonic context, but also on individual characteristics of the listener. The present work tackles these aspects in a combined psychoacoustic and neurophysiological study, taking into account participant's musical aptitude. Our paradigm employed cadence-like four-chord progressions, based on Western music theory. Chord progressions comprised naturalistic and artificial sounds; moreover, their single chords varied regarding consonance/dissonance and harmonic function. Thirty participants listened to the chord progressions while their cortical activity was measured with magnetoencephalography; afterwards, they rated the individual chord progressions with respect to their perceived roundness. Roundness ratings differed according to the degree of dissonance in the dominant chord at the progression's third position; this effect was pronounced in listeners with high musical aptitude. Interestingly, a corresponding pattern occurred in the neuromagnetic N1m response to the fourth chord (i.e., at the progression's resolution), again with somewhat stronger differentiation among musical listeners. The N1m magnitude seemed to increase during chord progressions that were considered particularly round, with the maximum difference after the final chord; here, however, the musical aptitude effect just missed significance. The roundness of chord progressions is reflected in participant's psychoacoustic ratings and in their transient cortical activity, with stronger differentiation among listeners with high musical aptitude. The concept of roundness might help to reframe consonance/dissonance to a more holistic, gestalt-like understanding that covers chord relations in Western music.

A Study of the Effects of Historical Block Context on Soundscape Perception

This study aims to explore the influence of spatial functional differences on the overall relationship between soundscape and visual landscape in the context of historical blocks and then propose design guidelines for audiovisual elements. Audiovisual stimulus materials were collected from 11 representative locations in typical urban historical blocks along the southeast coast of China and classified into residential, cultural leisure, and commercial spaces based on their primary function, activity, and visual environment characteristics. An evaluation environment was created in the laboratory using virtual reality technology, and a subjective evaluation questionnaire was administered to 71 volunteers regarding the perception of audiovisual elements and the evaluation of the overall environment. Structural equation modeling was used to elucidate the relationships between sound source perception, soundscape perception, visual landscape satisfaction, and overall harmony of the environment and to compare the effects of functional differences at different locations on the overall relationships. The results show significant differences in the types of perceived sound sources at different functional locations, which makes the sound sources affecting soundscape perception and visual landscape satisfaction different. Residential space is mainly affected by artificial sound and mechanical noise; in cultural and leisure spaces, all three types of sound sources have a significant impact, and only natural sound has enhanced subjective perception; the impact of artificial sound in commercial space is crucial. In addition, visual landscape satisfaction should be prioritized over soundscape pleasure to enhance the overall harmony of the environment. In residential and commercial spaces, reducing artificial and mechanical noise can effectively enhance the harmony of the environment; in cultural and leisure areas, reducing artificial sounds and increasing natural sounds or historical landscape elements can enhance the overall harmony of the environment. The results of this paper provide empirical evidence for understanding the overall relationship between soundscape factors in urban contexts and suggest that place function should be considered an important context when designing soundscapes.

Deviance Detection to Natural Stimuli in Population Responses of the Brainstem of Bats.

Deviance detection describes an increase of neural response strength caused by a stimulus with a low probability of occurrence. This ubiquitous phenomenon has been reported for humans and multiple other species, from subthalamic areas to the auditory cortex. Cortical deviance detection has been well characterized by a range of studies using a variety of different stimuli, from artificial to natural, with and without a behavioral relevance. This allowed the identification of a broad variety of regularity deviations that are detected by the cortex. Moreover, subcortical deviance detection has been studied with simple stimuli that are not meaningful to the subject. Here, we aim to bridge this gap by using noninvasively recorded auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) to investigate deviance detection at population level in the lower stations of the auditory system of a highly vocal species: the bat Carollia perspicillata (of either sex). Our present approach uses behaviorally relevant vocalization stimuli that are similar to the animals' natural soundscape. We show that deviance detection in ABRs is significantly stronger for echolocation pulses than for social communication calls or artificial sounds, indicating that subthalamic deviance detection depends on the behavioral meaning of a stimulus. Additionally, complex physical sound features like frequency- and amplitude modulation affected the strength of deviance detection in the ABR. In summary, our results suggest that the brain can detect different types of deviants already in the brainstem, showing that subthalamic brain structures exhibit more advanced forms of deviance detection than previously known.

Effectiveness of different sounds in human echolocation in live tests.

Echolocation is a vital method of spatial orientation for many visually impaired individuals who are willing to and able to learn it. Blind echolocators use a variety of sounds, such as mouth clicks, cane taps, or specialized sound-emitting devices, to perceive their surroundings. In our study, we examined the effectiveness of several different sounds used in echolocation by conducting trials with 12 blind and 14 sighted volunteers. None of the participants had received formal training in echolocation, though a number identified as self-taught experts. The sounds tested included those played from a loudspeaker, generated by a mechanical clicker, or made by the participants themselves. The task given to the participants was to identify the direction and distance to an obstacle measuring 1x2 meters in an outdoor environment, with the obstacle placed in one of nine possible positions. Our findings indicated that the blind participants displayed significantly better echolocation skills when compared to the sighted participants. The results of the blind participants were also strongly divided into two distinct subgroups-totally blind participants performed much better than those which were legally blind, but had some residual vision. In terms of sound comparisons, we found that sounds with a center frequency near 3-4kHz and a wide spectrum provided higher accuracy rates than those with lower frequency peaks. Sighted participants performed best with 3kHz and 4kHz percussion sounds, while the blind group performed best with blue and pink noise. The loudspeaker generated tones generally yielded better results than those generated by the participant (using a mechanical clicker, mouth clicks or hand claps). These results may be useful in developing training programs that teach echolocation as well as artificial sounds to improve echolocation effectiveness.

Effect of Added Natural and Artificial Sounds on Emotional Response and Indoor Soundscape to Residential Noises

This study investigated the effect of added natural and artificial sounds on emotional responses due to residential noises. The laboratory experiment conducted on three residential noise sources (child jumping and plumbing from upper unit and air conditioner outdoor unit) with different sound spectrum and temporal characteristics. In addition, combined sounds with residential, natural (one birdsong and three water sounds of waterfall, sea wave, and stream) and artificial sound (brown and white noise) were set. The experiment consisted of two sessions; self-assessment manikin and indoor soundscape assessment for each sound sources (single and combined residential noises) presented by headphone and woofer. As a result, most combined natural and artificial sounds resulted in more positive changes (higher valence and lower arousal score) than single residential noise. Among combined sounds, multiple natural sound (birdsong + stream) with residential noise showed significant difference from single residential noises such as air conditioner outdoor unit and plumbing noise. Meanwhile, eight affective attribute scale for indoor soundscape assessment showed two main perceptual dimensions and most added natural and artificial sounds had a role in increasing comfort.

A review of the effect of various type of artificial sounds to odontocetes

Reactions of bottlenose dolphins, Pacific white-sided dolphins, false killer whales, Risso's dolphins, Dall's porpoises to artificial underwater sounds were observed for developing countermeasures to reduce by-catch on gill nets. Related papers published during 1980-1995 in Japan were re-visited. Various sound projectors having dominant frequencies from 2 kHz to 200 kHz with source levels reaching up to 200dB re 1μPa. Reactions of dolphins and porpoises to the sounds were observed in a pool, a net enclosure, or an open sea. Clear escaping reactions from a sound source were observed by sounds with exposed level above 170dB at the subject animal. Reactions to sounds below 160dB were not stable. The dolphins got accustomed to the sound after multiple projections. On the other hand, frequency and amplitude modulated sounds seemed to be effective even if the sound pressure level was about 120dB. Efficacy of acoustic pingers to control wild dolphins and porpoises was limited. The exposure level to change behavior was estimated above 170dB that depends on the source level of a device and distance to the animal. Acclimation for the sounds by dolphins and porpoises were not negligible. Avoiding successive transmission and amplitude/frequency modulations induced behavioral reactions.

Neural signatures of automatic repetition detection in temporally regular and jittered acoustic sequences.

Detection of repeating patterns within continuous sound streams is crucial for efficient auditory perception. Previous studies demonstrated a remarkable sensitivity of the human auditory system to periodic repetitions in unfamiliar, meaningless sounds. Automatic repetition detection was reflected in different EEG markers, including sustained activity, neural synchronisation, and event-related responses to pattern occurrences. The current study investigated how listeners' attention and the temporal regularity of a sound modulate repetition perception, and how this influence is reflected in different EEG markers that were previously suggested to subserve dissociable functions. We reanalysed data of a previous study in which listeners were presented with sequences of unfamiliar artificial sounds that either contained repetitions of a certain sound segment or not. Repeating patterns occurred either regularly or with a temporal jitter within the sequences, and participants' attention was directed either towards the pattern repetitions or away from the auditory stimulation. Across both regular and jittered sequences during both attention and in-attention, pattern repetitions led to increased sustained activity throughout the sequence, evoked a characteristic positivity-negativity complex in the event-related potential, and enhanced inter-trial phase coherence of low-frequency oscillatory activity time-locked to repeating pattern onsets. While regularity only had a minor (if any) influence, attention significantly strengthened pattern repetition perception, which was consistently reflected in all three EEG markers. These findings suggest that the detection of pattern repetitions within continuous sounds relies on a flexible mechanism that is robust against in-attention and temporal irregularity, both of which typically occur in naturalistic listening situations. Yet, attention to the auditory input can enhance processing of repeating patterns and improve repetition detection.

Psychological and Physiological Effects of Low-Level Meaningful Artificial Sounds on Intellectual Tasks

AbstractThe present study aimed to investigate the psychological and physiological effects of low-level meaningful artificial sounds on intellectual tasks. The psychological factors related to the degree of disturbance, concentration, and stress, as measured by subjective evaluation, were compared with the degree of physiological stress, as measured using salivary alpha-amylase activity. The results indicated that human speech and chewing sounds caused similar levels of psychological stress while performing intellectual tasks; however, chewing sounds caused comparatively less physiological stress than did human speech sounds. These findings suggest that depending on the sound stimulus, psychological and physiological stress characteristics may not coincide.

Effect of an Artificial Sound-Based Index on the Perception of Historical Block Environments

The acoustic environment can influence people’s perceptions and experiences and shape the soundscape. The soundscape has a unique role in shaping the cultural identity of a regional culture. Artificial sounds are an essential source of sounds in historical blocks; research has shown the influence of the ratio of perceived artificial sounds to the perceived extent of natural sounds on environmental perception in historical blocks. In order to explore this impact, this study uses the red soundscape index (RSIn), which represents the ratio of perceived artificial sounds to natural sounds, and constructs a structural equation model to elucidate the relationship between RSIn, soundscape perception, and sense of place. The results show that: (1) The evaluation of the sense of place is inversely related to the perception of artificial sounds and positively related to the perception of natural sounds. (2) Different artificial sounds have different effects on soundscape perception and the sense of place; the traditional culture soundscape index (TRSIn) has a significant impact on soundscape pleasantness (β = −0.13, p < 0.001) and soundscape quality (β = −0.09, p < 0.01). (3) The human soundscape index (ARSIn) has a significant impact on the sense of place (β = −0.14, p < 0.001). (4) The music soundscape index (MRSIn) has a significant negative impact on soundscape quality (β = −0.13, p < 0.05) and the sense of place (β = −0.12, p < 0.05). Therefore, the different dominant artificial sound sources should be considered and emphasized when designing and optimizing the soundscape of historic districts. The results of this study can serve as design guidelines and supporting data, providing a reference for the optimization and enhancement of the soundscape of historical blocks.

Restorative effects of soundscape perception: A case of Yan Zhenqing Park in Shandong Province, China

Soundscape is an important part of landscape perception. As an important environmental element of creating the whole space of the city —— Acoustic Environment, it has been paid more and more attention to and studied gradually. With the improvement of urbanization and living conditions in China, people's mental health problems are gradually increasing. However, the studies on the restoration of soundscape consider how the perceived soundscape affects an individual’s mental health were scarce. Yan Zhenqing Park is a product of urbanization and a typical urban park, mental health and sound issues highlighted among residents near parks. The aim of this study was to improve Yan Zhenqing Park environment toward restoration of soundscape. Therefore, Yan Zhenqing Park was selected as the research case through field investigation, listening to a single sound source on the spot and designing a questionnaire. All data were collected by using the method of probability-sampling which involved questionnaires distributed to 370 of respondents. Using quantitative analysis methods to explore the relationship between properties and attributes of urban park stimulating restoration. The results show that there was a significant relationship between frequency, loudness, preference of sound, people prefer natural sounds and artificial sounds can have a negative impact on people's mental health. Research findings provide guidance for environment construction and add value to people’s health and quality of life and well-being.

Making tinnitus songs according to the frequency and amplitude of the sound of tinnitus sufferers that are safe and comfortable for sufferers

Background: Tinnitus is the perception of sound heard by a person without an external stimulus. About 10-14.5% of the world's population experience tinnitus, with the most common age group being 40-60. The management of tinnitus is still a challenge for researchers. Until now, there has been no effective management of tinnitus. The last therapy available is to make artificial sounds that imitate the tinnitus sound so that it can mask the actual tinnitus sound. In addition, music therapy is expected to reduce the stress level of tinnitus patients. Methods: This research is a follow-up study from previous research with 26 subjects. After getting the frequency and amplitude of tinnitus, a sound stimulus is made by combining tone variations and good generators obtained from audiometric masking. Tone variations are made using a basic tone that matches the patient's tinnitus frequency. After that, the patient will assess the results of the merger. Then all the participants will listen to dan evaluate the mixing song. Results: Of all subjective tinnitus sound generators, 3-5% have frequencies below 20 Hz and above 20,000 Hz. Songs made by recording in a soundproof room also have a frequency of 20 Hz and above 20,000 Hz, about 5 – 7%, where the song has an unnecessary frequency. The subjective tinnitus sound generator with the created song has an amplitude of < 85dB so that it can be adjusted with the volume control on the speaker. Conclusion: Tinnitus songs were made with the addition of Piano and Violin and Flute music, and Guitar, Bass and Balinese gamelan had a frequency of 20 – 20,000 Hz with an amplitude of < 85 dB, which can be adjusted with the volume so that it is safe and comfortable for tinnitus sufferers.

Hippocampus Modulates Vocalizations Responses at Early Auditory Centers

Despite its prominence in learning and memory, hippocampal influence in early auditory processing centers remains unknown. Here, we examined how hippocampal activity modulates sound-evoked responses in the auditory midbrain and thalamus using optogenetics and functional MRI (fMRI) in rodents. Ventral hippocampus (vHP) excitatory neuron stimulation at 5 Hz evoked robust hippocampal activity that propagates to the primary auditory cortex. We then tested 5 Hz vHP stimulation paired with either natural vocalizations or artificial/noise acoustic stimuli. vHP stimulation enhanced auditory responses to vocalizations (with a negative or positive valence) in the inferior colliculus, medial geniculate body, and auditory cortex, but not to their temporally reversed counterparts (artificial sounds) or broadband noise. Meanwhile, pharmacological vHP inactivation diminished response selectivity to vocalizations. These results directly reveal the large-scale hippocampal participation in natural sound processing at early centers of the ascending auditory pathway. They expand our present understanding of hippocampus in global auditory networks.

Harmonious Degree of Sound Sources Influencing Visiting Experience in Kulangsu Scenic Area, China

Soundscapes are important resources and contribute to high-quality visiting experiences in scenic areas. Based on a public investigation of 195 interviewees in the Kulangsu scenic area, this study aimed to explore the relationships between the harmonious degree of sound sources (SHD) and visiting experience indicators, in terms of soundscape perception, as well as the satisfaction degree of visual landscape and comprehensive impression. The results suggested that the dominating positions of human sounds did not totally suppress the perception of natural sounds such as birdsong and sea waves in the scenic area. Natural sound sources also showed a higher harmonious degree than other artificial sounds. Significant relationships existed between the SHD of most sound sources and the visiting experience indicators. Natural sounds were closely related to pleasant and comfortable soundscape perception, while mechanical sound sources were mainly related to eventful and varied soundscapes. The close relationships between certain sound sources and the satisfaction degree of the visual landscape and comprehensive impression evaluation indicated the effectiveness of audio-visual and even multi-sensory approaches to enhance visiting experience. The structural equation model further revealed that (1) natural sound was the most influential sound source of soundscape and visual landscape perception; (2) human sounds and mechanical sounds all showed significant positive effects on soundscape perception; and (3) indirect relationships could exist in the SHD of sound sources with comprehensive impression evaluation. The results can facilitate targeted soundscape and landscape management and landsense creation with the aim of improving visiting experience.

Residents’ Preferences to Multiple Sound Sources in Urban Park: Integrating Soundscape Measurements and Semantic Differences

Urban parks provide their residents with a space for activities and interactions, and soundscapes play an important role in influencing the residents’ sense of experience of the park environment, with the result that the preferences of residents regarding multiple sound sources can be used as the basis of improving the soundscape quality and optimizing the function of urban parks. Using Shanghai Century Park as the research area, this study focused on the residents’ preference to multiple sound sources based on registered residence differences, and comprehensively used the semantic differential method, importance-performance analysis model, and multinomial logit model to conduct quantitative research on urban park soundscapes and combined the measurement results of the soundscape with the residents’ perception and preference. The results showed that the artificial sounds in Century Park were noisy during the morning and evening peak, while the human sounds were noisy when residents gathered in the park. There was a close relationship between the favorability and subjective loudness of urban park soundscapes, and the residents’ perceptions of urban park soundscapes substantially differed in terms of loudness, tone, and sense of belonging, whereas the differences in the perception of timbre, coverage, and sound source distance were relatively small. Furthermore, it is necessary to enhance the role of natural sounds as well as control the main noise-producing sound sources so that various sounds in the park will not interfere with each other; the optimization of soundscapes should also focus on the residents’ different soundscape preferences due to their individual characteristics.

Development of a tinnitus sound generator that matches the sound of tinnitus patient

Background: Tinnitus is the perception of sound heard by a person in the absence of an external stimulus. About 10-14.5% of the world's population experience tinnitus, with the most common age group being 40-60 years. As many as 10-12 million people in the United States suffer from severe tinnitus and feel disturbed enough to seek treatment. The management of tinnitus is still a challenge for researchers. Existing therapies include counseling, cognitive therapy, hearing aids, and tinnitus retraining, but until now, there has been no significant therapy. The last therapy that is available is to make artificial sounds that imitate the sound of tinnitus so that it can mask the actual tinnitus sound. In addition, therapy using music is expected to reduce the stress level of tinnitus patients.
 Methods: This research is action research, a follow-up study from previous research, with consecutive sampling and in accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria. After getting the frequency and amplitude of tinnitus, a sound stimulus is made in the form of combining tone variations and sound generators obtained from audiometric masking. Tone variations are made using a basic tone that matches the patient's tinnitus frequency. After that, the patient will assess the results of the merger.
 Results: The results showed the frequency and amplitude of tinnitus, suitability with masking, type of tinnitus, degree of deafness, and all participants were comfortable when listening to sound therapy from a sound generator.
 Discussion: The patient will use a tinnitus sound generator for 2 hours for 2 days, so the amplitude is safely limited to less than 91 dB. In this study, we set the tinnitus sound as closely as possible with the frequency, amplitude, tinnitus pulsating or not, appropriate music and paying attention to the hearing threshold.

Pitch discrimination is better for synthetic timbre than natural musical instrument timbres despite familiarity.

Pitch discrimination is better for complex tones than pure tones, but how pitch discrimination differs between natural and artificial sounds is not fully understood. This study compared pitch discrimination thresholds for flat-spectrum harmonic complex tones with those for natural sounds played by musical instruments of three different timbres (violin, trumpet, and flute). To investigate whether natural familiarity with sounds of particular timbres affects pitch discrimination thresholds, this study recruited non-musicians and musicians who were trained on one of the three instruments. We found that flautists and trumpeters could discriminate smaller differences in pitch for artificial flat-spectrum tones, despite their unfamiliar timbre, than for sounds played by musical instruments, which are regularly heard in everyday life (particularly by musicians who play those instruments). Furthermore, thresholds were no better for the instrument a musician was trained to play than for other instruments, suggesting that even extensive experience listening to and producing sounds of particular timbres does not reliably improve pitch discrimination thresholds for those timbres. The results show that timbre familiarity provides minimal improvements to auditory acuity, and physical acoustics (e.g., the presence of equal-amplitude harmonics) determine pitch discrimination thresholds more than does experience with natural sounds and timbre-specific training.