TY - JOUR

T1 - The Bangor Voice Matching Test: A standardized test for the assessment of voice perception ability

AU - Muhl, Constanze

AU - Sheil, Orla

AU - Jarutytė, Lina

AU - Bestelmeyer, Patricia

PY - 2017/11

Y1 - 2017/11

N2 - Recognising the identity of conspecifics is an important, yet highly variable skill. Approximately 2% of the population suffers from a socially debilitating deficit in face recognition. More recently the existence of a similar deficit in voice perception has emerged (phonagnosia). Face perception tests have been readily available for years, advancing our understanding of underlying mechanisms in face perception. In contrast, voice perception has received less attention, and the construction of standardised voice perception tests has been neglected. Here we report the construction of the first standardised test for voice perception ability. Participants make a same/different identity decision after hearing two voice samples. Item Response Theory guided item selection to ensure the test discriminates between a range of abilities. The test provides a starting point for the systematic exploration of the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying voice perception. With a high test-retest reliability (r=.86) and short assessment duration (~10 minutes) this test examines individual abilities reliably and quickly and therefore also has potential for use in developmental and neuropsychological populations.

AB - Recognising the identity of conspecifics is an important, yet highly variable skill. Approximately 2% of the population suffers from a socially debilitating deficit in face recognition. More recently the existence of a similar deficit in voice perception has emerged (phonagnosia). Face perception tests have been readily available for years, advancing our understanding of underlying mechanisms in face perception. In contrast, voice perception has received less attention, and the construction of standardised voice perception tests has been neglected. Here we report the construction of the first standardised test for voice perception ability. Participants make a same/different identity decision after hearing two voice samples. Item Response Theory guided item selection to ensure the test discriminates between a range of abilities. The test provides a starting point for the systematic exploration of the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying voice perception. With a high test-retest reliability (r=.86) and short assessment duration (~10 minutes) this test examines individual abilities reliably and quickly and therefore also has potential for use in developmental and neuropsychological populations.

KW - voice identity perception

KW - individual differences

KW - phonagnosia

U2 - 10.3758/s13428-017-0985-4

DO - 10.3758/s13428-017-0985-4

M3 - Article

VL - 2017

SP - 1

EP - 9

JO - Behavior Research Methods

JF - Behavior Research Methods

SN - 1554-3528

ER -