Auditory perception of temporal order in humans: the effect of age, gender, listener practice and stimulus presentation mode.
The temporal order (TO) of two auditory stimuli can be reported correctly when they are separated by a gap of approximate 30 ms. Since no clear evidence on individual differences in human sequencing abilities exists, we tested the effect of subjects' age and gender, as well as physical properties of presented stimuli and listener practice on the perception of TO. In two experiments, young and elderly listeners reported the TO of two clicks or tones. The TO threshold (i.e. the minimum temporal gap required to report the stimulus order at 75% correctness) was lower in young than elderly listeners, in men than women and for tones than clicks. Age-related deterioration depended on the physical properties of presented stimuli, remaining resistant to both gender and practice.
Szymaszek
A
A
Laboratory of Neuropsychology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland.
Szelag
E
E
Sliwowska
M
M
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001307:Auditory Perception; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D012737:Sex Factors; D013998:Time Perception