The Doppler illusion: the influence of dynamic intensity change on perceived pitch.
Four studies illustrate a new auditory illusion associated with the Doppler effect and demonstrate a new influence of dynamic intensity change on perceived pitch. Experiment 1 confirmed the existence of a popular belief that the pitch of a moving sound source rises as the source approaches. Because there is no corresponding rise in frequency, the authors refer to the perceived pitch rise as the Doppler illusion. Experiment 2 confirmed that the effect occurs perceptually, so the belief in a "naive principle" of physics has a perceptual basis. Experiment 3 confirmed the effect does not occur under matched static conditions. Experiment 4 showed that the influence of dynamic intensity change on perceived pitch occurs outside the realm of Doppler stimuli. The findings support a dynamic dimensional interaction of pitch and loudness, with marked differences in the perception of pitch and loudness under static and dynamic conditions.
Neuhoff
J G
JG
Department of Psychology, Kent State University, USA. neuhoff@lafayette.edu
McBeath
M K
MK
D000328:Adult; D004215:Distance Perception; D004301:Doppler Effect; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007088:Illusions; D008144:Loudness Perception; D008297:Male; D009949:Orientation; D010897:Pitch Discrimination; D011571:Psychoacoustics; D013017:Sound Localization; D013018:Sound Spectrography