ERIC Number: EJ860064
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Aug
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0096-1523
EISSN: N/A
Adaptation Reveals Multiple Levels of Representation in Auditory Stream Segregation
Snyder, Joel S.; Carter, Olivia L.; Hannon, Erin E.; Alain, Claude
Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, v35 n4 p1232-1244 Aug 2009
When presented with alternating low and high tones, listeners are more likely to perceive 2 separate streams of tones ("streaming") than a single coherent stream when the frequency separation ([delta]f) between tones is greater and the number of tone presentations is greater ("buildup"). However, the same large-[delta]f sequence reduces streaming for subsequent patterns presented after a gap of up to several seconds. Buildup occurs at a level of neural representation with sharp frequency tuning. The authors used adaptation to demonstrate that the contextual effect of prior [delta]f arose from a representation with broad frequency tuning, unlike buildup. Separate adaptation did not occur in a representation of [delta]f independent of frequency range, suggesting that any frequency-shift detectors undergoing adaptation are also frequency specific. A separate effect of prior perception was observed, dissociating stimulus-related (i.e., [delta]f) and perception-related (i.e., 1 stream vs. 2 streams) adaptation. Viewing a visual analogue to auditory streaming had no effect on subsequent perception of streaming, suggesting adaptation in auditory-specific brain circuits. These results, along with previous findings on buildup, suggest that processing in at least 3 levels of auditory neural representation underlies segregation and formation of auditory streams. (Contains 1 footnote, 2 tables, and 7 figures.)
Descriptors: Brain Hemisphere Functions, Context Effect, Auditory Stimuli, Auditory Perception, Auditory Discrimination, Visual Stimuli, Cognitive Processes, Prior Learning, Adults, Experimental Psychology
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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Authoring Institution: N/A
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