THE DOPPLER ILLUSION - THE INFLUENCE OF DYNAMIC INTENSITY CHANGE ON PERCEIVED PITCH

Four studies illustrate a new auditory illusion associated with the Do ppler effect and demonstrate a new influence of dynamic intensity chan ge on perceived pitch. Experiment 1 confirmed the existence of a popul ar belief that the Ditch of a moving sound source rises as the source approaches. Because there is no corresponding rise in frequency, the a uthors refer to the perceived pitch rise as the Doppler illusion. Expe riment 2 confirmed that the effect occurs perceptually, so the belief in a ''naive principle'' of physics has a perceptual basis. Experiment 3 confirmed the effect does not occur under matched static conditions . Experiment 4 showed that the influence of dynamic intensity change o n perceived pitch occurs outside the maim of Doppler stimuli. The find ings support a dynamic dimensional interaction of pitch and loudness, with marked differences in the perception of pitch and loudness under static and dynamic conditions.