Pitch of noise signals: Evidence for a ’’central spectrum’’

Abstract

The pitch of signals derived from Gaussian white noise was reviewed; this included the pitch of a (monotic) band of noise, the pitch of (dichotic) noise with an interaural phase shift, the monotic and dichotic repetition pitch and the pitch of 2 interaurally delayed (uncorrelated) noises. The relationship of these pitch phenomena and their connection with the pitch of monaurally presented simple tones (place pitch) and complex tones (periodicity pitch) was established. New experiments were performed [with human subjects] on the pitch of 2 noise bands with harmonically related central frequencies, the pitch of (dichotic) noise with interaural phase shifts at 2 harmonically related central frequencies, and the pitch of band-reject noise. A uniform explanation appeared applicable, in correspondence with the theory of the pitch of complex tones, on the basis of the concept of a central spectrum. A simple schematic model of binaural interaction was used to describe the generation of the central spectrum. Pitch data could be accounted for by this model description. The existence region of pitch of dichotic signals was discussed in connection with other binaural functions, like lateralization, binaural beats and binaural masked level differences.