Recognition masking of auditory duration

Abstract

Forward and backward recognition masking of tonal duration were assessed using young adults as listeners. The task was to label as "short" or "long" a target tone that had a masking tone following or preceding it by a variable silent interstimulus interval (ISI). Forward- and backwardmasking effects were virtually equivalent. On both forward- and backward-masking trials, (1) percentages correct increased with increases in ISIs, (2) the probability of responding "long" to the target increased with increases in ISIs, and (3) the probability of responding "long" increased with increases in the duration of the mask. The equivalence of backward and forward duration masking argues against an interruption theory of duration masking. It is suggested that some form of integration theory, preferably one that includes components unique to the perception of duration, may better account for the results. © 1986 Psychonomic Society, Inc.