Research Note. Thresholds for Detecting Tempo Change

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to (a) determine thresholds for the detection of tempo change across a range of tempos, (b) compare thresholds across tempos and direction of change, and (c) examine the effect of previous music experience on detection ability. The subjects (n = 48). college non-music majors, responded to synthesised stimuli that gradually increased or decreased in tempo.

The plot of detection thresholds for all tempo-direction combinations suggests an interaction between tempo and direction thresholds for detection were greater for increases than for decreases at MM48 and MM84, but greater for decreases than for increases at MM192 and MM228. All threshold means for the high experience group were smaller than those of the low experience group.

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