Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2026

A Two-interval Forced-choice Task for Multisensory Comparisons
Published on: November 9, 2018
A temporally dynamic context effect that disrupts voice onset time discrimination of rapidly successive stimuli
Jacqueline Liederman1, Richard Frye, Janet McGraw Fisher
1Brain, Behavior and Cognition Program, Boston University, 64 Cummington St Boston, MA 02215, USA. liederma@bu.edu
Abstract:
Across three experiments, voice onset time discrimination along a/ba/-/pa/ continuum was found to be influenced by the order of presentation of rapidly successive stimuli. Specifically, discrimination was disrupted when a relatively unambiguous /pa/ syllable was presented before, rather than after, a more ambiguous /pa/ or/ba/ syllable. In Experiments 1 and 2, for between-category discrimination, this order effect was significant at interstimulus intervals (ISIs) below 250 msec, but not at 250 or 1,000 msec. In Experiments 2 and 3, the order effect was also significant for within-category discrimination at ISIs below 250 msec. In addition, in Experiment 3 this order effect was not diminished by provision of performance feedback across eight testing sessions. These findings reveal a particular vulnerability of phonological processing in response to rapidly successive stimuli and may have implications for mathematical and neural models of speech processing of normal and impaired populations.
Related Concept Videos
Interference: Path Lengths
Two special sources may be considered when they are in phase. This can be easily achieved by feeding the two sources from the same source. An example would be synchronizing the two speakers by feeding them with the same source, such as the sound waves produced by a tuning fork. This setup ensures that the two sources have the same frequency and are...
Sound Waves: Interference
Difference from Background: Limit of Detection
The LOD indicates the presence or absence...
Causes of Similarity-Dissimilarity Effect
Auditory Perception
Impact of Social Context on Individuals

