Motion perception of the target sound event under the discriminated two sound events

Abstract

The correct percentage of motion direction for one sound event was about 90%. In the case of two sound events, the correct percentage was lower than for one sound event. The sound event was presented through the headphone in these experiments. These two sound events were physically separated both in frequency and in onset time for the two sound events. It might be possible to perceive two sound events separately. The perception of onset time difference and the discrimination of different frequency sound events were investigated to clarify whether the subjects perceived two sound events distinctly. When IEOI (interevent onset interval) was more than 40 ms, the subjects perceived the onset time difference and the order of two presented sound events. Results clarified that the subjects distinctly perceive two sound events separately with long IEOI. However, the correct percentage for the direction of motion perception of the target in two sound events was significantly lower than for one sound event. The target was strongly affected by the nontarget. Even when two sound events are perceived separately in terms of frequency and temporal order, it is difficult to perceive the motion direction of the target.