Have you heard of the McGurk effect?

[Paul Spencer]

I think a lot of you guys will find this interesting.

Your eyes tell you one thing, your ears another, which do you believe?

The curious thing is that it keeps working after you know about it.

I've also written a little about it in my blog:
http://redspade-audio.blogspot.com/2011/01/mcgurk-effect-can-you-trust-your-ears.html

It doesn't directly relate to audio, but it does illustrate one way our ears can be tricked or over-ridden.

 

[RBFC]

Well, I'm a fig audiobile and this doesn't abbect me.

Lee

 

[Paul Spencer]

Are you seeing barcastic?

 

[Gregadd]

When you are listening to a stereo just whose lips are you reading?
With resect to expectation bias there is only one word I want to hear from a jury. That word is not. In 28 years I never got it wrong.

 

[es347]

No wonder aesthetics play such a big role in this crazy hobby.

 

[Ethan Winer]

It doesn't directly relate to audio, but it does illustrate one way our ears can be tricked or over-ridden.

Which is precisely why it does relate to audio.

--Ethan

 

[Paul Spencer]

When you are listening to a stereo just whose lips are you reading?
With resect to expectation bias there is only one word I want to hear from a jury. That word is not. In 28 years I never got it wrong.

Greg,
Judging by that post, you are missing the point completely. The point is that our ears can be tricked and this can happen even when we know it's happening. If it's true that our ears can be tricked when we know it's happening, how much more susceptible are they to being tricked when we don't see it coming?

There are two typical responses to this kind of thing. One is to learn something and benefit. The other is to try to pick holes in it because it comes as a perceived threat to your existing opinions.

 

[Gregadd]

Greg,
Judging by that post, you are missing the point completely. The point is that our ears can be tricked and this can happen even when we know it's happening. If it's true that our ears can be tricked when we know it's happening, how much more susceptible are they to being tricked when we don't see it coming?

There are two typical responses to this kind of thing. One is to learn something and benefit. The other is to try to pick holes in it because it comes as a perceived threat to your existing opinions.

Paul you should know Ethan already posted this video. No worry. It is important enough to post again.
You are quite right. I have repeatedly stated don't fight the hypothetical. If you do, you end up with an infinite set of questions.
Once you acknowledge the McGurk effect which I have, the question is how do we apply it to audio. That is what am I trying to "learn." When I close my eyes the word begins with a "b." When I open my eyes and read the lips I hear a "v" then. Obviously I am reading his lips and my eyes are dominating. I am not imagining anything.

Now Because I can't read my speakers lips, How would I simulate this test to learn something meaningful about listening to my stereo. You would agree that McGurk would be unable to trick me if I played the tape over my stereo regardless if my eyes were closed or open. My stereo is audio only.

 

[Paul Spencer]

I'm registered on over 40 audio related forums, I can't follow them all.

The point is simply this - our ears can be tricked, even when we know it's happening. How you use that information is up to you. I see it as something to keep in mind when you make subjective evaluations and comparisons.

 

[Gregadd]

Fair enough.

On second thought I guess I could close my eyes. I don't think that's necessary.