Depth of Sequential Auditory Information Processing: II

Folded Markov sequences provide a tool for the examination of the depth of processing sequential information. The effect of diffusing random sequences within folded Markov sequences was studied for finite‐state interval‐coded auditory pulse trains. Random sequences actively interfere with the discrimination of folded Markov sequences: Their effect is greater than simply deleting an equivalent number of intervals from the folded Markov sequence, or of extending the equivalent depth of folding. Random sequences provide effective interference, primarily because they fail to provide differential information for discrimination. Nondifferential nonrandom sequences also produce interference. In addition, it is shown that discrimination of folded Markov sequences is nearly independent of the number of possible states of the sequence under conditions of equivalent uncertainty. The apparent depth of sequential processing is virtually unlimited; the necessary condition is that each depth of folding be represented by about five samples.