Alternative to the wavelength interpretation of the auditory kappa effect

We argue that the simple wavelength interpretation of the auditory kappa effect proposed by Yoblick and Salvendy in 1970 is inadequate since only the frequency of an incoming soundwave is preserved at the tympanic membrane. Alternative explanations are proposed in terms of psychological variables. The kappa effect with tonal intervals is explained using an imputed velocity model in which frequency differences are equated to phenomenological "distances." The continuous tone effect is explained in terms of previously observed correlations between frequency and the volume or " bigness " of a tone and between size and perceived duration.