Are certain types of sounds easier to remember than others? Given that my research on sensory integration suggests that tone envelope (i.e., a sound's "shape over time") plays a crucial role in auditory perception, I am now collaborating with Jeanine Stefannuci (College of William and Mary) on a series of studies. We are interested in whether sequences of sounds with ecologically familiar percussive shapes are easier to remember than sounds with artificial sounding flat shapes (i.e. the sounds produced by a touch-tone phone). Currently, we are able to show that percussive tones offer significant perceptual and cognitive advantages by decreasing learning time and increasing retention. Additionally, products using percussive tones are judged to be more valuable than products using flat tones. For more information, please see the sample stimuli page for this study, or download it from papers currently under review. |
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Research >
Learning and memory |