Abstract
Duration-discrimination data from an experiment using empty auditory intervals in a two-alternative forced-choice paradigm are presented. The observed functional relationship between standard deviation of the psychometric density function and stimulus duration is shown to be fit significantly better by a Weber’s law model of duration discrimination than by Creelman’s counter model. Both models fail to predict the rapid rise in the Weber fraction observed for durations longer than about 2 sec. However, the Weber’s law model, based on a generalization of Weber’s law, accurately predicts the initial drop in the Weber fraction for very short durations and the observed constancy of the Weber fraction for durations up to 2 sec.
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This research was supported by Public Health Service Grant MH24143 to the author.
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Getty, D.J. Discrimination of short temporal intervals: A comparison of two models. Perception & Psychophysics 18, 1–8 (1975). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03199358
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03199358