Accentuation of spectral pitch

Lower harmonics of steady‐state complex tones are resolved and produce individual spectral pitches when attention is focused to them. Attention to individual harmonics is enforced by sharp onset cues as simply switching partials on and off. Periodically rising and falling changes of the fundamental frequency of a complex tone (range: 1 oct, rate: 1–0.5 s) results in concurrent percepts. Initially accentuated spectral pitches of short duration are perceived followed by continuing integration of the partials into the complex tone according to the ‘‘common fate’’ rule. In comparison to the falling fundamental frequency phase higher partials accentuated during the rising phase are integrated faster. Concurrent spectral and fundamental frequency information exhibit a distinct pitch ambiguity transition immediately after the onset of the spectral pitch. The duration of the transition stage is assumed to reflect a kind of ‘‘Gestalt’’ generation time constant until the complex tone accepts its new incoming compon...