Abstract
Alternating dichotic presentation of tones was compared with monaural presentation in two different perceptual tasks. When Ss were asked to detect higher frequency target tones in fists of six background tones, they missed less than 5%. However, when the presentation was fast (10/sec) and the tones alternated dichotically, Ss reported “hearing” only three or four tones. In two further experiments, Ss were asked to judge the number of tones or to report their spatial and temporal positions; these tasks were much less accurately performed, for the dichotic lists, than the target detection task. The differing effects of switching rate on these tasks are discussed in relation to the types of processing they require.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Axelrod, S., Guzy, L. T., & Diamond, I. T. Perceived rate of monotic and dichotically alternating clicks. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 1968, 43, 51–55.
Axelrod, S., & Powazek, M. Dependence of apparent rate of alternating clicks on azimuthal separation between sources. Psychonomic Science, 1972, 26, 217–218.
Barrett, Y. W. Multiple use of the auditory cortex: Interaction at a single point. Experimental Neurology, 1972, 34, 1–15.
Cumming, G. Visual perception and metacontrast at rapid input rates. Unpublished doctoral thesis, Oxford University, 1971.
Elliott, L. L. Backward masking: Monotic and dichotic conditions. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 1962, 34, 1108–1115.
Fehrer, E., & Raab, D. Reaction time to stimuli masked by metacontrast. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1962, 63, 143–147.
Gold’dburt, S. N. Persistence of auditory processes within micro-intervals of time (new data on retroactive masking). Biophysics, 1961, 6, 76–81.
Guzy, L. T., & Axelrod, S. Synchromzation of unimanual and bimanual responses with monotic and dichotic clicks. Perception & Psychophysics, 1971, 9, 161–164.
Guzy, L. T., & Axelrod, S. Interaural attention shifting as response. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1972, 95, 290–294.
Kahneman, D. Remarks on attention control Acta Psychologica, 1970, 33, 118–131.
Laberge, D. On the processing of simple visual and auditory stimuli at distinct levels. Perception & Psychophysics, 1971, 9, 331–334.
Lawson, E. Decisions concerning the rejected channel. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1966, 18, 260–265.
Moray, N. Introductory experiments in auditory time sharing: Detection of intensity and frequency increments. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 1970, 47, 1071–1073.
Moray, N., & Fee, M. Selective attention to pure tones and speech. Psychonomic Science, 1970, 18, 223–224.
Neisser, U. Visual search. Scientific American, 1964, 210, 94–102.
Rosenzweig, M. R., & Rosenblith, W. A. Responses to successive auditory stimuli at the cochlea and at the auditory cortex. Psychological Monographs, 1953. 67, Whole No. 363.
Schubert, E. D., & Parker, C. D. Attention to Cherry’s findings on switching speech between the two ears. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 1955, 27, 792–794.
Sorkin, R. D., Pastore, R. E., & Pohlmann, L. D. Simultaneous two-channel signal detection. II. Correlated and uncorrelated signals. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 1971, 51, 1960–1965.
Treisman, A. M. Strategies gnd models of selective attention. Psychological Review, 1969, 76, 282–299.
Treisman, A. M. Shifting attention between the ears. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1971, 23, 157–167.
Treisman, A. M., & Riley, J. G. A. Is selective attention selective perception or selective response? A further test. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1969, 79, 27–34.
White, C. T. Temporal numerosity and the psychological unit of duration. Psychological Monographs, 1963, 77, Whole No. 575.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was supported by the Medical Research Council.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Harvey, N., Treisman, A.M. Switching attention between the ears to monitor tones Nigel Harvey. Perception & Psychophysics 14, 51–59 (1973). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03198617
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03198617