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Updated: May 5, 2026
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A Two-interval Forced-choice Task for Multisensory Comparisons
Published on: November 9, 2018
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Serial dependence in auditory temporal perception is influenced by temporal proximity but not stimulus type
Jessica Bertolasi1, Davide Esposito2, Nicola Domenici3
1U-VIP: Unit for Visually Impaired People, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16136, Genoa, Italy; Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and Systems Engineering, University of Genoa, 16146, Genoa, Italy.
Acta Psychologica
|May 3, 2026
Summary
Serial dependence (SD) in auditory perception shows current sound judgments are biased by prior sounds. This effect was strongest with shorter intervals between sounds, demonstrating its role in auditory timing.
Area of Science:
- Auditory Perception
- Psychophysics
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Serial dependence (SD) describes how current perceptions are influenced by preceding stimuli, enhancing perceptual stability.
- While extensively studied in vision, auditory SD is a newer area of research with underexplored underlying mechanisms.
- Understanding how stimulus characteristics and timing affect auditory SD is crucial for mapping its neural basis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and characteristics of serial dependence in the auditory domain, specifically in temporal discrimination tasks.
- To examine how stimulus type (full vs. empty intervals) and inter-stimulus interval (ISI) influence auditory serial dependence.
Main Methods:
- Participants performed temporal discrimination tasks, judging the duration of the first sound relative to the third.
- A second, 'inducer' sound was presented to elicit serial dependence.
- Stimulus type (full/empty intervals) and the ISI between the inducer and the third stimulus were systematically varied.
Main Results:
- Serial dependence was observed in auditory temporal discrimination, confirming its occurrence in this modality.
- Stimulus type did not significantly affect the magnitude of serial dependence.
- Auditory serial dependence was significant for the shortest inter-stimulus interval but diminished with longer ISIs.
Conclusions:
- Serial dependence is a robust phenomenon in auditory timing perception.
- The temporal proximity of stimuli, specifically the inter-stimulus interval, plays a critical role in modulating auditory serial dependence.
- These findings contribute to understanding the temporal dynamics and mechanisms of auditory perception.
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