| The kappa effect, an effect of spatial extent on the perception of time, is, relatively speaking, poorly understood, especially in the auditory domain. Five experiments demonstrate the kappa effect in the auditory domain by instructing listeners to judge the timing of a tone (Tone X) in relation to a tone immediately preceding it (Tone A) and immediately following it (Tone B). These three tones, together, are referred to as a kappa cell. Experiments 3, 4, and 5 illustrate how the serial context of kappa judgments can influence the strength of the effect. Experiment 1 served as a control experiment to demonstrate the effectiveness of the independent variables. Experiment 2 replicated Shigeno (1986), perhaps the clearest presentation to date of the auditory kappa effect, yet used pitch (frequency on a logarithmic scale) rather than frequency (on a linear scale) as an independent variable. Experiment 3 added a three-tone serial context to the kappa cell. Experiment 4 added a serial context to the kappa cell that strongly conflicted with its pitch trajectory. Experiment 5 examined kappa cells with larger pitch motion (or change in pitch per unit time). Results are discussed in terms of auditory motion and the assumption of constant velocity. |
