Pattern recognition memory spans: Effects of frequency, intensity, and duration

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Abstract
A three‐interval, three‐alternative forced choice adaptive psychophysical procedure was used to examine the effects of stimulus frequency, intensity, and duration on pattern recognition memory. Stimuli were digitally synthesized and controlled by a computer system that interleaved test series between left and right ears. Just‐noticeable differences (jnd's) in isolation were first determined for frequency (Hz), intensity (dB), and duration (ms), using 70‐dB SPL, 200‐ms, 1000‐Hz pure tones in four well‐practiced subjects. Next, subjects were presented randomly generated binary patterns differing along one of the stimulus dimensions at 4, 8, or 12 jnd's. In each run, two of the patterns were the same and one was different. The subjects' task was to select the odd pattern. The system adapted on the length of the pattern. ANOVA on span length indicated that the effects of stimulus dimension (p < 0.001) and jnd magnitude (p < 0.001) were significant. Post hoc analyses indicated that span length was significantly longer for frequency as compared to intensity and duration patterns. Thus frequency information is of particular importance to the encoding of stimuli in acoustic short‐term memory.

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