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Related Concept Videos

Sound Waves: Interference00:53

Sound Waves: Interference

Sound waves can be modeled either as longitudinal waves, wherein the molecules of the medium oscillate around an equilibrium position, or as pressure waves. When two identical waves from the same source superimpose on each other, the combination of two crests or two troughs results in amplitude reinforcement known as constructive interference. If two identical waves, that are initially in phase, become out of phase because of different path lengths, the combination of crests with troughs...
Interference: Path Lengths01:10

Interference: Path Lengths

Consider two sources of sound, that may or may not be in phase, emitting waves at a single frequency, and consider the frequencies to be the same.
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...
Perception of Sound Waves01:01

Perception of Sound Waves

The human ear is not equally sensitive to all frequencies in the audible range. It may perceive sound waves with the same pressure but different frequencies as having different loudness. Moreover, the perception of sound waves depends on the health of an individual's ears, which decays with age. The health of one's ears may also be affected by regular exposure to loud noises.
The pitch of a sound depends on the frequency and the pressure amplitude of the source. Two sounds of the same frequency...
Shock Waves01:16

Shock Waves

While deriving the Doppler formula for the observed frequency of a sound wave, it is assumed that the speed of sound in the medium is greater than the source's speed through it. When this condition is breached, a shock wave occurs.
When the source's speed approaches the speed of sound, constructive interference between successive wavefronts emitted by the source occurs immediately behind it. Initially, scientists believed that this constructive interference would result in such high pressures...
Perceiving Loudness, Pitch, and Location01:21

Perceiving Loudness, Pitch, and Location

The human brain perceives pitch through two primary mechanisms reflected in place theory and frequency theory. Each mechanism describes how sound waves are interpreted as specific pitches by the brain, offering insights into the intricate processes of auditory perception.
Place theory, or place coding, suggests that different pitches are heard because various sound waves activate specific locations along the cochlea's basilar membrane. The brain determines the pitch of a sound by identifying...
Hearing01:31

Hearing

When we hear a sound, our nervous system is detecting sound waves—pressure waves of mechanical energy traveling through a medium. The frequency of the wave is perceived as pitch, while the amplitude is perceived as loudness.

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Related Experiment Video

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fMRI Mapping of Brain Activity Associated with the Vocal Production of Consonant and Dissonant Intervals
11:15

fMRI Mapping of Brain Activity Associated with the Vocal Production of Consonant and Dissonant Intervals

Published on: May 23, 2017

Consonant confusions in white noise.

Sandeep A Phatak1, Andrew Lovitt, Jont B Allen

  • 1ECE Department, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois 61801, USA.

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
|August 7, 2008
PubMed
Summary

This study replicated a classic consonant confusion experiment using computerized methods. Results showed consonant recognition errors in noise vary, with some consonants being more confusable than others, and identified factors influencing these confusions.

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Area of Science:

  • Acoustics
  • Speech Perception
  • Psychoacoustics

Background:

  • The classic [MN55] confusion matrix experiment investigated consonant perception in noise.
  • Previous research by Phatak and Allen (2007) utilized computerized procedures for similar studies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To repeat the classic [MN55] consonant confusion experiment using computerized methods.
  • To analyze consonant recognition scores and confusion patterns in white noise.
  • To investigate variability in consonant confusion and its relationship with the articulation index.

Main Methods:

  • Replication of the [MN55] confusion matrix experiment with 16 consonants in white noise.
  • Utilized computerized procedures for data collection and analysis.
  • Categorized consonant scores into low, average, and high error sets.

Main Results:

  • Consonant scores in white noise were categorized into low, average, and high error sets.
  • Consonant confusions largely matched [MN55] findings, with notable exceptions in fricative voicing confusions.
  • Significant variability in consonant recognition scores and confusion patterns was observed (confusion heterogeneity and threshold variability).
  • Average consonant error correlated with the articulation index (AI), which explained signal-to-noise ratio differences.

Conclusions:

  • Computerized replication confirmed consonant confusion patterns, highlighting variability in perception.
  • The articulation index provides a basis for understanding consonant error rates and signal-to-noise ratio effects.
  • Findings contribute to understanding speech perception in noisy environments and the factors influencing consonant recognition.