Illusory conjunctions of pitch and duration in unfamiliar tone sequences

J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform. 2001 Feb;27(1):128-40. doi: 10.1037//0096-1523.27.1.128.

Abstract

In 3 experiments, the authors examined short-term memory for pitch and duration in unfamiliar tone sequences. Participants were presented a target sequence consisting of 2 tones (Experiment 1) or 7 tones (Experiments 2 and 3) and then a probe tone. Participants indicated whether the probe tone matched 1 of the target tones in both pitch and duration. Error rates were relatively low if the probe tone matched 1 of the target tones or if it differed from target tones in pitch, duration, or both. Error rates were remarkably high, however, if the probe tone combined the pitch of 1 target tone with the duration of a different target tone. The results suggest that illusory conjunctions of these dimensions frequently occur. A mathematical model is presented that accounts for the relative contribution of pitch errors, duration errors, and illusory conjunctions of pitch and duration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Auditory Perception / physiology
  • Cognition / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Illusions*
  • Middle Aged
  • Music
  • Pitch Perception / physiology*
  • Time Perception / physiology*