A Study of Pursuit and Compensatory Tracking of Auditory Pitch

Abstract

Eight subjects were each presented with two tones, one representing the target, one representing the follower. Two courses of pitch variation were used, one a simple sine wave, the other a combination of three sine waves. The extreme variation was 150 cps either side of 900 cps. In compensatory tracking the pitch of one tone remained steady at 900 ops and the subject attempted to null the variations in pitch of the other tone. In pursuit tracking the subject attempted to follow the variations in one to no with the other tone so that no pitch differential existed. The tones were either mixed and presented to both ears, dichotic presentation, or presented one to each oar, dichotic presentation. Diotic presentation, when boats were audible, was superior to dichotic presentation. Compensatory tracking was superior to pursuit tracking. Performance was better on the single sine wave course than on the multiple sine wave course.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

NICOLETTE D. MILNES-WALKER

Now at Department of Occupational Psychology, University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology, Cardiff, Wales.