Subject: Re: Gold & Pumphrey From: Christopher Shera <shera(at)EPL.MEEI.HARVARD.EDU> Date: Mon, 25 Mar 2002 09:24:34 -0500Andrew Bell wrote: > Pumphrey and Gold would not dispute that there is a (spectral) > difference between the two wavetrains A and B. Indeed, if there were > absolutely no difference, then no frequency analyser on earth would > be able to tell the difference between them. What Pumphrey and Gold > are simply saying is that any difference between A and B can only be > perceived if the analyser has a sufficiently high Q. The point missed here (and the point missed by G&P) is that G&P's analysis--and hence their derived numerical values of Q---only applies if the frequency analyzer in question is a single harmonic oscillator (2nd-order resonator) tuned to the sine-tone frequency. Of course, the ear (even the cochlear part) is more complicated than that. For a nice discussion see Hartmann's "Signals, Sound, and Sensation." pg. 310ff. -- Christopher Shera 617-573-4235 voice Eaton-Peabody Laboratory 617-720-4408 fax 243 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114-3096 http://epl.harvard.edu "Sadism and farce are always inexplicably linked." -- Alexander Theroux