The Impact of Pitch on Tempo-Spatial Accuracy and Precision in Intercepting a Virtually Moving Ball

Abstract

In two experiments, horizontal and vertical orientated sounds moved in parabolas. Participants had to touch a screen to indicate where and when a virtual moving ball would cross a visible line. We predicted that due to the sensitivity of the auditory system to temporal information, manipulations of pitch should affect temporal errors more than spatial errors. Stimuli were sound sources at five different pitches moving along a parabola produced through loudspeakers mounted around a touch screen. Results showed pitch effects on spatial constant and spatial variable errors when the parabola was horizontally oriented (Exp. 1), and on temporal constant errors in vertically oriented parabolas (Exp. 2). We conclude that temporal and spatial precision in interception tasks were affected differently by pitch manipulations and require consideration in future studies when assessing the impact of auditory information on catching virtually moving balls.

Keywords:

• auditory stimuli
• accuracy
• precision
• interception task
• spatial error
• temporal error

Disclosure Statement

I have disclosed those interests fully to Taylor & Francis, and I have in place an approved plan for managing any potential conflicts arising from that involvement.

Additional information

Funding

In accordance with Taylor & Francis policy and my ethical obligation as a researcher, I am reporting that we received funding from DFG. The project was supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG) with two grants awarded to Markus Raab (RA 940/15-2) and Rouwen Cañal-Bruland (CA 635/2-2).