Re: cross-modality-size-loud

[Massimo Grassi <massimo.grassi@xxxxxxxx>]

Dear all,

I think it's important to segregate the contribution of exciter (or non 
sounding object) and resonator (or sounding object).

I run an experiment where people estimated the size of balls (i.e., a 
non sounding object) that were dropped upon a plate (i.e., a sounding 
object). In the experiment I varied either balls' mass (i.e., the size) 
 or plates' diameter.

Size estimates had a very high correlation with the sound's power, 
therefore with the sound's loundness (r^2 between sound's power and size 
estimate were between .97 and .99). The correlation between spectral 
centroid (an good candidate for an "estimate of pitch" if you like) and 
size were lower (.92. to .97).

Therefore, there is, for a peculiar class of objects (i.e., non sounding 
objects), a link between size and loudness.

m
---------
ref.:
Grassi, M. (2005). Do we hear size or sound: balls dropped on plates. 
Perception & Psychophysics, 67(2), 274-284.

> Does anyone know of  experimental psychological data reported which 
> refutes (or not) the hypothesis: the perception of object O as “has 
> /much/ of quality X” predisposes to the perception also of “has /much/ 
> of quality Y”? E.g., is there empirical evidence for cross-modal bonds 
> like "large objects (much of size) are loud objects (much of sound)" ?
>
> Although I see brain research approaching the subject (e.g. 
>  http://www.dhushara.com/pdf/synesthesia.pdf) I have not (yet) found so 
> much empirical psychology about such metaphors. I may not have studied 
> carefully enough the synaestesia literature, but appreciate any more 
> specific ‘forwardings’ then.
>
> Pieter Jan Stallen / Chair Community Noise Annoyance / University of 
> Leiden / Netherlands


--
Massimo Grassi - PhD
Dipartimento di Psicologia Generale
Via Venezia 8 - 35131 Padova - Italy
http://www.psy.unipd.it/~grassi
http://percezione.wordpress.com/