Pitch of Tone Bursts of Changing Frequency

The pitch of tone bursts containing a linear change of frequency, either throughout 100% or for only a portion (5% and 25%) of the total burst duration, was studied. Pitch judgments for the tone bursts with the frequency change throughout the burst duration show that a single pitch can be assigned to the burst as long as the frequency change and duration are not too large. The single-pitch character of such a glide deteriorates as the product of the burst duration and frequency change increases and seems to follow the change of spectra. For the bursts with short transitions, when the frequency change is not too large, the pitch assigned to the burst changes smoothly from the final to the initial frequency according to the delay of the transition onset. For larger frequency changes, bursts can be matched by either initial or final frequency, a case called separation, as distinguished from the more singular fusion. The change from fusion to separation corresponds to the change from spectra with one maximum to those with two maxima, as long as the frequency selectivity of the auditory system permits the formation of corresponding excitation patterns. Results obtained from measurements are compared with those calculated from a model.