Depth of Sequential Auditory Information Processing: III

The auditory discrimination of quasiperiodic finite‐state sequences was examined for four alternative methods of encoding binary states: pulse polarity, the occurrence or nonoccurrence of a pulse, the ear to which a pulse was delivered, and interpulse interval. Except for relatively poor sensitivity for pulse polarity within low‐frequency pulse trains, all four methods of encoding led to nearly comparable discrimination. The specific method of encoding finite‐state information is apparently not critical for the auditory discrimination of quasiperiodic sequences. For each method of encoding, best performance is achieved for pulse trains of many short interpulse intervals. The detection of sequential constraints is apparently carried out primarily by means of information within high‐frequency auditory channels. Under selected conditions, the three methods based upon binary coding of periodic clock intervals are more sensitive than that based upon pulse interval coding. The auditory analysis for partial periodicities is apparently carried out over relatively constant temporal sampling intervals.