categorical perception

in speech perception, the phenomenon in which a continuous acoustic dimension, such as voice-onset time, is perceived as having distinct categories with sharp discontinuities at certain points. Whereas discrimination is much more accurate between categories, individuals tested are often unable to discriminate between acoustically different stimuli that fall within the same categorical boundaries. Categorical perception is crucial in the identification of phonemes.

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Psychology term of the day

May 10th 2024

coping style

the characteristic manner in which an individual confronts and deals with stress, anxiety-provoking situations, or emergencies.