Because pitch is the most acute of all human auditory percepts, pitch perception experiments are stringent tests of neurophysiological models of the human auditory system. in this project three programs in human pitch perception are proposed to test or to develop models of auditory neural patterns. (1) Experiments on pitch discrimination for short tones of unequal duration challenge the existing neurophysiological interpretations of the perception of impulsive tones. The development of an alternative statistical decision theory model is suggested. (2) Experiments on the formation of pitch by manipulation of the mutual coherence of signals delivered to the two ears reveal similarities and differences when compared to binaural pitch effects resulting from manipulation of the interaural phase. The results can be used to refain models of binaural interaction and theories of central neural patterns. (3) Experiments on the ability to isolate the pitch of a mistuned component in a complex tone probe the limits of auditory temporal analysis. The data provide tests of the descriptions of the role which neural synchrony plays in percepturally segrating different sources of sound. Together these three research programs will develop new knowledge, with potential clinical significance. Concerning auditory neural excitation patterns. Specifically this knowledge can help to refine the distinctions between those kinds of hearing deficits which can be treated successfully at the auditory periphery and those which cannot.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS017917-06
Application #
3397936
Study Section
Hearing Research Study Section (HAR)
Project Start
1981-12-01
Project End
1988-02-29
Budget Start
1986-12-01
Budget End
1988-02-29
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
1987
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Michigan State University
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
193247145
City
East Lansing
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48824
Hartmann, W M (1987) Digital waveform generation by fractional addressing. J Acoust Soc Am 82:1883-91
Rakerd, B; Hartmann, W M (1986) Localization of sound in rooms, III: Onset and duration effects. J Acoust Soc Am 80:1695-706
Rakerd, B; Hartmann, W M (1985) Localization of sound in rooms, II: The effects of a single reflecting surface. J Acoust Soc Am 78:524-33