Auditory Perception

During the past year we have conducted several experiments designed to study those stimulus characteristics which contribute to the ability of the auditory system to separate simultaneous signals. We have studied the effects of synchronous amplitude modulation, specifically the influence of changes in relative level of two stimuli, and have found that by changing relative levels of the two stimuli involved, the ear can detect temporal synchrony over a range of at least four octaves. We have also studied the effects of simultaneous gating, synchronous FM, and harmonicity on the ability of the auditory system to detect a signal in the presence of other stimuli. We have found that each of these characteristics contribute to signal separation.