Profile analysis of harmonic complexes: Effects of mistuning the target

The effect of mistuning a single target component of a harmonic complex on listeners' ability to detect an increment in the relative level of the targ et was investigated. In the baseline condition, the complex consisted of th e first 20 harmonics of 200 Hz, with harmonic 3 designated the target, In t he mistuned condition, the third harmonic was shifted down in frequency by 8%, To control for possible within-channel cues, versions of the above stim uli were also included in which harmonics 2 and 4 were removed. The results suggest that mistuning the target component does not impair across-frequen cy intensity comparisons. (C) 2000 Acoustical Society of America. [S0001-49 66(00)02104-4].