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The growing-louder effect in short diotic stimuli
A H Reinhardt-Rutland1, W H Ehrenstein
1Psychology Department, University of Ulster at Jordanstown, Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland. ah.reinhardt-rutland@ulst.ac.uk
Perceptual and Motor Skills
|August 1, 1996
Summary
A steady sound is often perceived as growing louder, requiring intensity to decrease to sound steady. This auditory perception phenomenon, the "growing-louder effect," was confirmed in diotic tonal stimuli.
Area of Science:
- Auditory Perception
- Psychoacoustics
- Human Auditory System
Background:
- Previous research with monotic stimuli indicated that a steady sound is perceived as increasing in loudness.
- To counteract this perception, stimulus intensity must actually decrease to be perceived as steady.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the "growing-louder effect" using diotic tonal stimuli.
- To determine if the effect persists under binaural listening conditions.
Main Methods:
- Ten subjects were presented with diotic tonal stimuli (1.5 sec duration, 1 kHz carrier frequency, 40 dB SPL initial intensity).
- Stimuli varied in intensity: increasing, decreasing, or steady.
- Subjects performed a binary forced-choice task, responding "growing louder" or "growing softer."
Main Results:
- The mean intensity change required to elicit an equal number of "growing louder" and "growing softer" responses was negative.
- This confirms the "growing-louder effect" observed with monotic stimuli.
Conclusions:
- The "growing-louder effect" is a robust auditory phenomenon, also present with diotic stimulation.
- Potential explanations include the percussive nature of natural sounds and auditory focus on approaching sound sources.