Profiling the perceptual suppression of partials in periodic complex tones: Further evidence for a harmonic template

The basis for the perceptual cohesion of periodic complex tones was investi gated. In experiment 1, 2-4 consecutive components (harmonics 6 and above) were removed from a 14-harmonic complex and replaced with a sinusoidal "pro be," located at one of a set of regularly spaced positions spanning the gap ; On each trial, subjects heard a complex tone followed by an adjustable pu re tone in a continuous loop. Subjects were better able to match the pure t one to the probe when the probe did not coincide with a harmonic position. Minima in "hit rate" were more pronounced when harmonic probes were in posi tions adjacent tb other harmonics than when they were not. These findings s uggest that the pitch of each in-tune partial was actively suppressed by a template whose influence attenuated with distance from regions of consecuti ve harmonics. In experiment 2, the partials on either side of the spectral gap were harmonics of different fundamental frequencies. Hit-rate minima co rresponding to both fundamentals were found, indicating an upward and downw ard spread of suppression, and also demonstrating the concurrent operation of two templates. The results confirm recent findings in support of templat e models, and are consistent with the idea that partial-pitch suppression u nderpins harmonic fusion. (C) 1998 Acoustical Society of America. [S0001-49 66(98)05812-3].