Sound Lab Activities

Scale Illusion
[more information]

The LEFT Ear:
Please listen to this file (30 seconds) and try to get a senses of the melody:

The RIGHT Ear:
Please listen to this file (30 seconds) and try to get a senses of the melody:

The RIGHT Ear:
Please listen to this file (30 seconds) which combines the above two files into a stereo file - meaning that you will hear both at the same time:

What does it sound like is going on in each ear now? Do you still hear the two melodies or do you get an entirely new experience? Describe what you hear. You should remove one ear phone (making the illusion go away) just to prove that the melody is still the same as what you first heard.

Phantom Words
[more information]
Below are 9 sound files. Each contains the same two phonemes to each ear, but the phonemes switch between ears. This means that when the left ear hears phoneme "A" the right ear hears phoneme "B" then the left ear will hear phoneme "B" while the right ear will hear phoneme "A" and all of this will repeat.
Everyone should do the first sound file (1), but for the second one, please choose whichever one(s) you feel like - but PLEASE indicate on your handout sheet, which number you are responding to!
Unfortunately, this interesting phenomenon works better with stereo speakers than with headphones, but we will try it this way just the same (you can always revisit this page and try it with stereo speakers on your own to see if it works better).
What should happen: While listening to the sounds, your brain will try to figure out what it is hearing (by finding the closest items in memory that it can). You should quickly be able to identify a word or phrase. But, if you continue listening, other words and/or phrases may be heard as well.
PLEASE WRITE DOWN EVERY WORD OR PHRASE THAT YOU PERCEIVE FOR EVERY SOUND FILE YOU LISTEN TO!

To learn more about Diana Deutsch and her auditory illusions, please visit this webpage.

Scale Illusion [more information] The LEFT Ear: Please listen to this file (30 seconds) and try to get a senses of the melody: The RIGHT Ear: Please listen to this file (30 seconds) and try to get a senses of the melody: The RIGHT Ear: Please listen to this file (30 seconds) which combines the above two files into a stereo file - meaning that you will hear both at the same time: What does it sound like is going on in each ear now? Do you still hear the two melodies or do you get an entirely new experience? Describe what you hear. You should remove one ear phone (making the illusion go away) just to prove that the melody is still the same as what you first heard.

Phantom Words [more information] Below are 9 sound files. Each contains the same two phonemes to each ear, but the phonemes switch between ears. This means that when the left ear hears phoneme "A" the right ear hears phoneme "B" then the left ear will hear phoneme "B" while the right ear will hear phoneme "A" and all of this will repeat. Everyone should do the first sound file (1), but for the second one, please choose whichever one(s) you feel like - but PLEASE indicate on your handout sheet, which number you are responding to! Unfortunately, this interesting phenomenon works better with stereo speakers than with headphones, but we will try it this way just the same (you can always revisit this page and try it with stereo speakers on your own to see if it works better). What should happen: While listening to the sounds, your brain will try to figure out what it is hearing (by finding the closest items in memory that it can). You should quickly be able to identify a word or phrase. But, if you continue listening, other words and/or phrases may be heard as well. PLEASE WRITE DOWN EVERY WORD OR PHRASE THAT YOU PERCEIVE FOR EVERY SOUND FILE YOU LISTEN TO!

To learn more about Diana Deutsch and her auditory illusions, please visit this webpage.