Octave discrimination: An experimental confirmation of the ’’stretched’’ subjective octave

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Abstract
Discrimination of the musical octave was measured by the method of constant stimuli with roving standards and 4 response categories. For each of the 3 musically trained [human] listeners, and 2 of 3 untrained listeners, the estimated value of the subjective octave was stretched slightly sharper than the physical octave of 1200 cents. The magnitude of this stretch, .apprx. 20 cents on the average, replicated earlier findings obtained by the method of adjustment. A Thurstonian decision-theory model, providing iterative parameteric solutions, generated an excellent fit to listeners'' psychophysical functions. This experiental task is best described by a noncategorical model of intercal perception.

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