title: Measuring perceptual centers using the phase correction response.
abstract: The perceptual center (P-center) is fundamental to the timing of heterogeneous event sequences, including music and speech. Unfortunately, there is currently no comprehensive and reliable model of P-centers in acoustic events, so P-centers must instead be measured empirically. This study reviews existing measurement methods and evaluates two methods in detail-the rhythm adjustment method and a new method based on the phase correction response (PCR) in a synchronous tapping task. The two methods yielded consistent P-center estimates and showed no evidence of P-center context dependence. The PCR method appears promising because it is accurate and efficient and does not require explicit perceptual judgments. As a secondary result, the magnitude of the PCR is shown to vary systematically with the onset complexity of speech sounds, which presumably reflects the perceived clarity of a sound's P-center.
authors: National University of Ireland Maynooth, Maynooth, Ireland. rudi.villing@nuim.ie
authors: Rudi C
authors: RC
authors: Villing
authors: Bruno H
authors: BH
authors: Repp
authors: Tomas E
authors: TE
authors: Ward
authors: Joseph M
authors: JM
authors: Timoney
mesh_terms: D001307:Auditory Perception; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D009043:Motor Activity; D009146:Music; D010700:Phonetics; D013067:Speech Perception; D013998:Time Perception