A Response-Time Approach for Estimating Sensitivity to Auditory Tempo Changes

2005 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 389-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Pouliot ◽  
Simon Grondin
Keyword(s):  
Response Time ◽  
Auditory System ◽  
Relative Sensitivity ◽  
Psychophysical Method ◽  
Dynamic Stimuli ◽  
Tempo Change ◽  
Sensitive Tool ◽  
Acceleration And Deceleration ◽  
Musical Condition ◽  
Method Of Constant Stimuli

One of the features of the auditory system is its ability to efficiently process events that occur in rapid succession. The aim of the present study is to propose a new way of investigating sensitivity to auditory tempo changes. More specifically, it proposes to compare the relative sensitivity (bias) to acceleration and deceleration in both musical and monotonal conditions. Bias was measured with (1) a conventional psychophysical method known as the method of constant stimuli (MCS) and (2) a so-called method of dynamic stimuli (MDS). The latter method consists in responding with a finger press as soon as a near-continual tempo change is detected. With the MCS, there was no preference, as estimated by the point of subjective equality, between acceleration and deceleration in the monotonal condition, but there was a preference in the musical condition that indicated more facility for estimating decelerations than accelerations. The results obtained with the MDS are consistent with the MCS results, given that the response time was faster for decelerations than accelerations in the musical condition but not in the monotonal condition. We conclude that the MDS is a sensitive tool for investigating slight tempo variations.

scholarly journals Ammonia Gas Sensing Characteristic of P3HT-rGO-MWCNT Composite Films

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (15) ◽  
pp. 6675
Author(s):  
Tran Si Trong Khanh ◽  
Tran Quang Trung ◽  
Le Thuy Thanh Giang ◽  
Tran Quang Nguyen ◽  
Nguyen Dinh Lam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Response Time ◽  
Gas Sensor ◽  
Gas Sensing ◽  
Composite Films ◽  
Weight Ratio ◽  
Film Surface ◽  
Relative Sensitivity ◽  
Ammonia Gas ◽  
Casting Technique ◽  
Multi Walled Carbon Nanotubes

In this work, the P3HT:rGO:MWCNTs (PGC) nanocomposite film applied to the ammonia gas sensor was successfully fabricated by a drop-casting technique. The results demonstrated that the optimum weight ratio of the PGC nanocomposite gas sensor is 20%:60%:20% as the weight ratio of P3HT:rGO:MWCNTs (called PGC-60). This weight ratio leads to the formation of nanostructured composites, causing the efficient adsorption/desorption of ammonia gas in/out of the film surface. The sensor based on PGC-60 possessed a response time of 30 s, sensitivity up to 3.6% at ammonia gas concentration of 10 ppm, and relative sensitivity of 0.031%/ppm. These results could be attributed to excellent electron transportation of rGO, the main adsorption activator to NH3 gas of P3HT, and holes move from P3HT to the cathodes, which works as charge “nano-bridges” carriers of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs). In general, these three components of PGC sensors have significantly contributed to the improvement of both the sensitivity and response time in the NH3 gas sensor.

Individual Variability in Muller-Lyer Illusion Difference Thresholds: Moderating Influences of Hypnotic Susceptibility in Waking and Hypnosis

1994 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 323-333
Author(s):  
Richard P. Atkinson
Keyword(s):  
Standard Stimulus ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Psychophysical Method ◽  
Hypnotic Susceptibility ◽  
Lyer Illusion ◽  
Stimulus Difference ◽  
Difference Thresholds ◽  
Method Of Constant Stimuli

This study investigated the differential influences of hypnotic susceptibility on Muller-Lyer illusion difference thresholds in waking and hypnosis using the psychophysical method of constant stimuli. As assessed by the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Form A (HGSHS:A) and the Group Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form C (GSHSS:C), sixteen high (scores = 9–12) and sixteen low (scores = 0–3) hypnotizables participated. In counterbalanced sessions of waking and hypnosis, each subject was sequentially exposed to 110 computer-generated Muller-Lyer illusion pairs of comparison stimuli and a standard stimulus. Difference thresholds for high and low hypnotizables did not differ significantly in waking, but were significantly lower for high than low hypnotizables in hypnosis. Difference thresholds were also significantly lower for high hypnotizables in hypnosis than in waking. Low hypnotizables performed similarly in waking and hypnosis.

Cognitive Change in Special Forces Personnel following Stressful Survival Training

2005 ◽  
Vol 49 (19) ◽  
pp. 1776-1779 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. C. Harris ◽  
P. A. Hancock ◽  
C. A. Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Response Time ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Relative Sensitivity ◽  
Cognitive Change ◽  
Physical Stress ◽  
Minimal Change ◽  
Response Accuracy ◽  
Special Forces ◽  
School Training ◽  
Post Stress

Understanding the deterioration in cognitive functioning produced by stress continues to gain in importance due to the increasing demands imposed by technologically sophisticated systems. Although the general deleterious effects of stress are well established, the relative sensitivity of different cognitive functions to stress and the pattern of cognitive recovery with rest have not been fully distinguished. In this paper, we examined the cognitive performance of Special Forces soldiers immediately prior to and immediately following one week of Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) School training at Ft. Bragg, NC. Post-stress cognitive performance was characterized by significantly increased response time with minimal change in response accuracy. While response time increased for all tasks, memory appears to be most sensitive to stress. Performance returned to pre-stress levels the next morning following one night of sleep. The tasks affected most in the current study differed from changes which follow primarily upon physical stress, implying that the effects of combined psychological and physical stress on cognitive performance differ substantively from the effects of physical demand alone.

The Effect of Psychophysical Method on the Loudness of Continuous and Interrupted Pure Tones

1979 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 717-730
Author(s):  
Dennis Hampton ◽  
Ira M. Ventry
Keyword(s):  
Psychophysical Method ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Tracking Method ◽  
Tracking Tasks ◽  
Loudness Judgment ◽  
Pure Tones ◽  
Comfortable Loudness ◽  
Method Of Adjustment ◽  
Method Of Constant Stimuli

Using the Bekesy tracking method for loudness judgment tasks such as most comfortable loudness (MCL) and recalled loudness (RL) measurements, normal listeners have tracked continuous (C) tones at lesser intensities than interrupted (I) tones. The resulting continuous/interrupted (C/I) separations have ranged up to 22 dB. Explanations of the unexpected C/I separations have not been in agreement. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether psychophysical method has a significant effect on the C/I separation. Subjects were six normal-hearing adults, each of whom participated in three practice and ten test sessions of one hour each. Thirty-six experimental conditions were presented. The test signals were C tones, 200/200 msec I tones and 200/800 msec I tones, all at 1 kHz. The reference intensities were 20, 50 and 80 dB SPL. The four methods were Bekesy tracking method (BTM), method of adjustment (MAdj), method of limits (ML) and method of constant stimuli difference (MCSD). Mean values for Point of Subjective Equality and C/I separation were calculated. C/I separations obtained with the BTM were significantly larger than C/I separations obtained with any other psychophysical method. These results demonstrate that C/I separations obtained during suprathreshold Bekesy tracking tasks by normal hearers are largely caused by the measurement method itself rather than by differences in C and I tone loudness. Time order errors could explain the BTM effect.

Stereoscopic Depth Perception in Simulated Displays: What Helps and What Hurts?

1996 ◽  
Vol 40 (23) ◽  
pp. 1193-1196 ◽  
Author(s):  
John W. Akers ◽  
Elizabeth T. Davis ◽  
Robert A. King
Keyword(s):  
Depth Perception ◽  
Stereoscopic Depth ◽  
Stimulus Orientation ◽  
Psychophysical Method ◽  
Depth Information ◽  
Stereoscopic Display ◽  
Retinal Disparity ◽  
Vertical Disparity ◽  
Stereoscopic Displays ◽  
Method Of Constant Stimuli

We tested the effect of direction of retinal disparity and stimulus orientation on stereoscopic depth perception to answer three questions. First, are some directions of disparity more efficient than others in providing stereoscopic depth information? Second, does the orientation of an object affect perceived stereoscopic depth? Third, are there any interactions between these parameters? Subjects were tested using a psychophysical, method of constant stimuli procedure with a modified Wheatstone stereoscopic display. Disparity threshold measurements show a significant effect of direction of retinal disparity. Contrary to expectations however, no significant effect of orientation was found if vertical retinal disparities were excluded from the analyses. Stereoacuity thresholds were measurable with obliquely-oriented stimuli and vertical disparity, however, suggesting that vertical disparities can provide useful information. The implications of these results for the graphics, calibration, and design of stereoscopic displays (e.g., HMDs) are discussed.

Psychophysical Method and Phoria as Variables Determining Apparent Motion Perception

1966 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan W. Rusnak
Keyword(s):  
Motion Perception ◽  
Apparent Motion ◽  
Horizontal Plane ◽  
Psychophysical Method ◽  
Perceived Motion ◽  
Method Of Constant Stimuli

Psychophysical method, degree of heterophoria, and type of heterophoria (esophoria and hyperphoria) were studied as variables affecting the perception of beta motion in 25 male Ss and 25 female Ss. Esophoria was more disruptive of motion perception than hyperphoria, for all Ss, with the stimuli presented in a horizontal plane. The method of constant stimuli produced greater mean durations of perceived motion in the male Ss than the method of serial exploration but was non-significant for females. Degree of heterophoria did not significantly affect mean durations of perceived motion for either group, leading to the conclusion that beta motion is a highly stable phenomenon

Evaluation of Efferent Auditory System and Hearing Quality in Parkinson's Disease: Is the Difficulty in Speech Understanding in Complex Listening Conditions Related to Neural Degeneration or Aging?

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Nuriye Yıldırım Gökay ◽  
Bülent Gündüz ◽  
Fatih Söke ◽  
Recep Karamert
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Auditory System ◽  
Otoacoustic Emissions ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Pure Tone Audiometry ◽  
Auditory Pathway ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
System Function ◽  
Distortion Product

Purpose The effects of neurological diseases on the auditory system have been a notable issue for investigators because the auditory pathway is closely associated with neural systems. The purposes of this study are to evaluate the efferent auditory system function and hearing quality in Parkinson's disease (PD) and to compare the findings with age-matched individuals without PD to present a perspective on aging. Method The study included 35 individuals with PD (mean age of 48.50 ± 8.00 years) and 35 normal-hearing peers (mean age of 49 ± 10 years). The following tests were administered for all participants: the first section of the Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale; pure-tone audiometry, speech audiometry, tympanometry, and acoustic reflexes; and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) and contralateral suppression of DPOAEs. SPSS Version 25 was used for statistical analyses, and values of p < .05 were considered statistically significant. Results There were no statistically significant differences in the pure-tone audiometry thresholds and DPOAE responses between the individuals with PD and their normal-hearing peers ( p = .732). However, statistically significant differences were found between the groups in suppression levels of DPOAEs and hearing quality ( p < .05). In addition, a statistically significant and positive correlation was found between the amount of suppression at some frequencies and the Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale scores. Conclusions This study indicates that medial olivocochlear efferent system function and the hearing quality of individuals with PD were affected adversely due to the results of PD pathophysiology on the hearing system. For optimal intervention and follow-up, tasks related to hearing quality in daily life can also be added to therapies for PD.

Influence of the Acoustic Reflex on Vowel Recognition

1986 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 420-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Dorman ◽  
Ingrid Cedar ◽  
Maureen Hannley ◽  
Marjorie Leek ◽  
Julie Mapes Lindholm
Keyword(s):  
Auditory System ◽  
Sound Pressure ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Recognition Accuracy ◽  
Pressure Level ◽  
Acoustic Reflex ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Stapedial Reflex ◽  
Vowel Recognition ◽  
High Sound

Computer synthesized vowels of 50- and 300-ms duration were presented to normal-hearing listeners at a moderate and high sound pressure level (SPL). Presentation at the high SPL resulted in poor recognition accuracy for vowels of a duration (50 ms) shorter than the latency of the acoustic stapedial reflex. Presentation level had no effect on recognition accuracy for vowels of sufficient duration (300 ms) to elicit the reflex. The poor recognition accuracy for the brief, high intensity vowels was significantly improved when the reflex was preactivated. These results demonstrate the importance of the acoustic reflex in extending the dynamic range of the auditory system for speech recognition.

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