The detection of repetitions in noise before and after perceptual learning

Abstract

In noise repetition-detection tasks, listeners have to distinguish trials of continuously running noise from trials in which noise tokens are repeated in a cyclic manner. Recently, it has been shown that using the exact same noise token across several trials ("reference noise") facilitates the detection of repetitions for this token [Agus et al. (2010). Neuron 66, 610-618]. This was attributed to perceptual learning. Here, the nature of the learning was investigated. In experiment 1, reference noise tokens were embedded in trials with or without cyclic presentation. Naïve listeners reported repetitions in both cases, thus responding to the reference noise even in the absence of an actual repetition. Experiment 2, with the same listeners, showed a similar pattern of results even after the design of the experiment was made explicit, ruling out a misunderstanding of the task. Finally, in experiment 3, listeners reported repetitions in trials containing the reference noise, even before ever hearing it presented cyclically. The results show that listeners were able to learn and recognize noise tokens in the absence of an immediate repetition. Moreover, the learning mandatorily interfered with listeners' ability to detect repetitions. It is concluded that salient perceptual changes accompany the learning of noise.

Short-term learning effect in different psychoacoustic measures

“…A larger learning effect was found for adults than for adolescents [43], but similar learning effect was found for young and aging adults [38] and for musicians and nonmusicians [41]. Some studies have reported on generalization of learning to different ear [39] and task [42], but not all of them [44]. Most of these studies on perceptual learning in psychoacoustic measures have tested long-term learning, going on for several days.…”

“…Studies testing perceptual learning in auditory psychoacoustic tasks found learning effect for gap detection, for frequency and pitch discrimination, and for the ability to detect a tone in backward masking [e.g., [38][39][40][41][42][43][44]. A larger learning effect was found for adults than for adolescents [43], but similar learning effect was found for young and aging adults [38] and for musicians and nonmusicians [41].…”

Perceptual Learning of Acoustic Noise Generates Memory-Evoked Potentials

“…We used an experimental paradigm where listeners learned exemplars of acoustic noise [2,5,6,8]. Although noise is not representative of natural sounds, it is a unique tool to probe auditory [2] or even visual [9,10] perceptual learning.…”

Perceptual Learning of Acoustic Noise by Individuals With Dyslexia

“…much more reliably than the RNs they only heard once. Furthermore, once learned, the RefRN token could be recognized even without any within-trial repetition (Agus & Pressnitzer, 2013). This shows that listeners can learn at least some of the specific acoustic details of a 0.5-s noise token.…”

“…As such, deficits in auditory learning, when applied to speech sounds, could potentially account for difficulties in phonological awareness and verbal short-term memory. In order to test nonverbal auditory memory, the present study builds on a paradigm developed by Agus, Thorpe, and Pressnitzer (2010) and Agus and Pressnitzer (2013). Agus et al (2010) used white noise to observe behaviorally the emergence of new auditory memories.…”