The effect of structure and rate on the recognition and description of auditory temporal patterns

Each trial consisted of dichotomous (high and low frequency) tones started in a random sequence which changed to a patterned sequence. S pressed a switch when he recognized that the sequence was patterned and pressed it again when he could describe the pattern. Rate of presentation was varied. Descriptions were verbalized or tapped. The data showed that descriptions were begun with the longest run of identical tones at the slow rate (1 tone/sec) and ended with the longest run at the fast rate (4 tones/sec). This effect was greater with verbalized than with tapped descriptions. At the medium rate (2 tones/sec), descriptions began with the longest run for patterns of nine tones or more and ended with the longest run for patterns of eight tones or less. Pattern recognition occurred substantially sooner than pattern description. The difference in time between these two responses remained constant across rate, while the difference in number of tones increased with rate. The results are discussed in terms of mode of processing, level of processing, and short-term storage.