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Original Article

Audio-Frequency and Audio-Intensity Discrimination in the Human Neonate

Pages 615-625 | Published online: 07 Jul 2009
 

Abstract

Two experiments were performed on newborn babies; one on audio-frequency and the other on audio-intensity discrimination. The technique was to stimulate the babies with sounds until they ceased to respond according to a criterion. Then the appropriate acoustic variable was changed and the response reappeared. The results suggest that the audio-frequency discrimination was not due to fatigue in the sensory end organ but rather to some central process. Additionally, individual differences in discriminative capacity are considered.

Résumé

Des nouveaux nés ont été soumis à deux expériences; I'une sur la discrimination des fréquences auditives, I'autre sur la discrimination des variations d'intensité tonale. On a présenté un ton comme stimulus, jusqu'au moment oil les bébés ont cessé de répondre. Ensuite, le signal acoustique variable a été changé et la réponse a réapparu.

Les résultats suggèrent que la discrimination des fréquences auditives n'est pas la conséquence de la fatigue auditive au niveau de la cochlée mais qu'elle dépend d'un processus plus central.

En outre sont considérées des différences individuelles de capacité discriminative.

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