Influence of Rhythmic Grouping on Duration Perception: A Novel Auditory Illusion

Abstract

This study investigated a potential auditory illusion in duration perception induced by rhythmic temporal contexts. Listeners with or without musical training performed a duration discrimination task for a silent period in a rhythmic auditory sequence. The critical temporal interval was presented either within a perceptual group or between two perceptual groups. We report the just-noticeable difference (difference limen, DL) for temporal intervals and the point of subjective equality (PSE) derived from individual psychometric functions based on performance of a two-alternative forced choice task. In musically untrained individuals, equal temporal intervals were perceived as significantly longer when presented between perceptual groups than within a perceptual group (109.25% versus 102.5% of the standard duration). Only the perceived duration of the between-group interval was significantly longer than its objective duration. Musically trained individuals did not show this effect. However, in both musically trained and untrained individuals, the relative difference limens for discriminating the comparison interval from the standard interval were larger in the between-groups condition than in the within-group condition (7.3% vs. 5.6% of the standard duration). Thus, rhythmic grouping affected sensitivity to duration changes in all listeners, with duration differences being harder to detect at boundaries of rhythm groups than within rhythm groups. Our results show for the first time that temporal Gestalt induces auditory duration illusions in typical listeners, but that musical experts are not susceptible to this effect of rhythmic grouping.

Perceived empty duration between sounds of different lengths: Possible relation with repetition and rhythmic grouping

“…In other words, between-groups intervals were perceived as longer than within-groups intervals. The similar effects of rhythmic grouping on perceived duration were demonstrated in a recent psychophysical experiment (Geiser & Gabrieli, 2013), but for only nonmusician listeners.…”

“…If between-groups intervals had been perceived as longer than within-groups intervals, as predicted from the previous studies (Bolton, 1894;Geiser & Gabrieli, 2013), a positive correlation should have been found between PSE SL-LS versus PGC. However, no significant correlation was found between these variables, and thus, we could not find evidence supporting the notion that between-groups intervals are perceived as longer.…”

“…Previous studies have posited that a change in the duration of between-groups intervals is more difficult to detect than a change in the duration of withingroups intervals (Fitzgibbons et al, 1974;Geiser & Gabrieli, 2013;Thorpe & Trehub, 1989;Trainor & Adams, 2000) and that between-groups intervals are perceived as longer than within-groups intervals (Bolton, 1894;Geiser & Gabrieli, 2013). We tested the latter proposition and found no significant correlation between PSE SL-LS versus PGC.…”

“…Because the effects of rhythmic grouping on perceived duration may depend on the listener's expertise in music performance (Geiser & Gabrieli, 2013), we asked participants about the length of music training they took for private lessons or club activities. The mean period of training (minimum-maximum value) was 5.1 (0-17) years for French-speaking participants and 3.2 (0-15) year for Japanese-speaking participants.…”

“…Additionally, previous studies have indicated that a change in the duration of between-groups intervals is more difficult to detect than a change in the duration of within-groups intervals (Fitzgibbons, Pollatsek, & Thomas, 1974;Geiser & Gabrieli, 2013;Thorpe & Trehub, 1989;Trainor & Adams, 2000). Some kinds of perceptual grouping could thus influence the ability for detecting a change in the duration of empty intervals (sensitivity) as well as the perceived duration of empty intervals (accuracy).…”