This study investigated the effects of rhythm pattern, texture, beat location of tempo change, and direction of tempo change on the amount of time needed to perceive the change. Eighty-eight subjects listened to 32 versions of Dvořák's “Humoreske” and were asked to identify the onset of tempo change. Results indicated that significantly more time was needed to perceive tempo increase than tempo decrease, uneven rhythm than even rhythm, and melody alone than melody with accompaniment. Furthermore, significant interaction effects involving beat locations of tempo change suggest that differential rhythmic groupings may be a factor in tempo discrimination.
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