The ability to distinguish simultaneous sounds plays a critical role across various auditory environments. This capacity is a component of auditory scene analysis and essential for complex functions such as speech communication, musical perception, and spatial awareness. Prior studies suggest that cognitive and perceptual limitations restrict the number of sound sources that can be accurately recognized at once. This study investigated the perceptual threshold for concurrent and sequential sound identification under monophonic and stereophonic conditions. Seventeen distinct sound samples, e.g., dog bark, hand clap, and door knock, were used in trials comprising 2, 3, 5, 7, or 9 simultaneous sounds. Ten graduate students with self-reported normal hearing participated after being familiarized with all sounds beforehand. For each trial, participants selected sounds they heard and estimated the total number presented. Recognition accuracy was calculated as the proportion of correctly identified sounds. Accuracy decreased immediately and precipitously as sound complexity increased. Analyses revealed a broad range of sample-dependent masking-effects where variability in sound sample frequency and spectral features likely introduced uncertainty. Stereophonic and sequential presentations yielded higher accuracy than monophonic, possibly due to improved separation and reduced masking effect. Results here suggest the perceptual limits of auditory scene processing may be more constrained than indicated in prior research.
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