Ear dominance and intensity independence in the perception of dichotic chords

Abstract

The perceived pitch mixture of 2 tones of a dichotically presented chord was studied as a function of the difference between the intensities of the right- and left-ear tones (.DELTA.I). Within a wide range of .DELTA.I, the pitch mixture is independent of .DELTA.I. This intensity independence of the pitch mixture of dichotic chords is not seen with monaural chords. Within the range of .DELTA.I over which intensity independence is seen, the pitch mixture of the dichotic chord is determined by another property of the central pitch processor.sbd.the ear dominance function. In previous experiments the intensity independent function could only be detected in those subjects with a weak ear dominance function. Subjects [human] adjusted the relative intensities of the 2 tones of a binaural chord to match the pitch mixture of a dichotic chord, and the intensity independent function was measured directly in all subjects. The present method provided a direct measure of the magnitude of the subject''s ear dominance function and clarified the relationship between the effects of the 2 functions.