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Research Article
October 2006

The Development of Temporal Resolution: Between-Channel Gap Detection in Infants and Adults

Publication: Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research
Volume 49, Number 5
Pages 1104-1113

Abstract

Purpose

Infants have a good ability to detect brief silent gaps between 2 short identical sound markers (within-channel gap detection), with thresholds between 2 and 11 ms. The present experiment traces the development of temporal resolution for between-channel gaps (i.e., gaps delineated by spectrally disparate markers). This ability appears crucial for the perception of complex stimuli such as speech and is thought to reflect more central auditory processing.

Method

Infants age 6–7.5 months and adults were tested in a between-channel gap detection task using a conditioned head-turn procedure. Gaps were marked by 1- and 4-kHz Gaussian-enveloped sine-tone markers.

Results

Infant gap thresholds were between 30 and 40 ms under conditions in which adult thresholds were between 10 and 20 ms.

Conclusions

Unlike within-channel gap detection, the central temporal processing required for between-channel gap detection is still immature at 6 months of age.

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Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research
Volume 49Number 5October 2006
Pages: 1104-1113

History

  • Received: Dec 16, 2004
  • Revised: Jun 1, 2005
  • Accepted: Mar 20, 2006
  • Published in issue: Oct 1, 2006

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Key Words

  1. infants
  2. adults
  3. psychoacoustics
  4. hearing assessment

Authors

Affiliations

Nicholas A. Smith
McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Laurel J. Trainor [email protected]
McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
David I. Shore
McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Notes

Contact author: Laurel J. Trainor, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada. E-mail: [email protected]

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