Abstract
Two studies were performed where five sinusoids, 125 Hz, 250 Hz, 500 Hz, 2 kHz, and 4 kHz, were presented to babies up to 9 days old along with several no-signal trials. Although variability in responding was the key result, a flat curve was representative of the intensities required for motor responding 50% of the time across the frequencies studied. In the second experiment, fixed intensities were chosen for each signal frequency, so d’ values could be estimated. The d’s differed over frequency. Evidence is cited that responding in the auditory response cradle which was used here varies with acoustic parameters. Some reasons are suggested as to why the newborns exhibit such variability.
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Reference Notes
1. Bennet, M. J.Trials with the auditory response cradle. I—Neonatal response to auditory stimuli. Manuscript submitted for publication, 1978.
2. Weatherby, L. A., & Bennett, M. J.The neonatal acoustic reflex. Manuscript submitted for publication, 1979.
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This work was made possible by Michael Bennett and Brunei University, who allowed me to use their facilities.
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Weir, C. Auditory frequency sensitivity of. Perception & Psychophysics 26, 287–294 (1979). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03199882
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03199882