Abstract
When a long glide with a short temporal gap in its middle crosses with a continuous short glide at the temporal midpoint of both glides, the gap is perceived in the short glide instead of in the long glide. In the present article, we tested possible explanations for this “gap transfer illusion” by obtaining points of subjective equality of the pitches and durations of the two short tones that are subjectively divided by the gap. The results of two experiments showed that neither an explanation in terms of envelope patterns nor explanations in terms of combination tones or acoustic beats could account for the perception of the short tones in the gap transfer illusion. Rather, the results were compatible with the idea that the illusory tones were formed by the perceptual integration of onsets and offsets of acoustically different sounds. Implications for the perceptual construction of auditory events are discussed.
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All authors contributed equally to this article and are listed in alphabetical order. The research was supported by grants to Y.N. from the Japanese Ministry of Education (07459017 in the fiscal years 1995–1997), the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (14101001 in the fiscal years 2002–2006), and the “Center of Excellence” program of the Japanese government, entitled “Design of Artificial Environments on the Basis of Human Sensibility.” Chris Darwin, Stephen Handel, Gert ten Hoopen, and Daigoh Suetomi gave us valuable suggestions.
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Kanafuka, K., Nakajima, Y., Remijn, G.B. et al. Subjectively divided tone components in the gap transfer illusion. Perception & Psychophysics 69, 641–653 (2007). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03193768
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03193768