Perception of missing fundamental and consideration on its characteristics

It is considered that pitch of f/sub 0/ is produced in the auditory center when we hear a complex tone of f/sub 1/ = n f/sub 0/ and T/sub 2/= (n+k) f/sub 0/. f/sub 0/ is known as missing fundamental. We confirm, by psycho-acoustic experiments, that we can hear missing fundamental. Furthermore, we investigate how a/sub i/f/sub i/, and /spl theta//sub i/, in complex tones a/sub 1/sin(2/spl pi/f/sub 1/t+/spl theta//sub 1/)+a/sub 2/sin(2/spl pi/f/sub 2/t+/spl theta//sub 2/) in low frequency region, influence on producing f/sub 0/ . The low frequency region ( 250 Hz/spl sim/1000 Hz ) is chosen for considering the mechanism of perceiving missing fundamental without influence of spontaneous discharge and refractory period. The results of experiments are discussed by significant difference test. Finally, we confirm, by psycho-acoustic experiments, that we can hear missing fundamental in frequency region higher than 1000 Hz.