Audio Stimuli
Version: v1 (current)
Play audio content to participants for speech, music, or auditory perception research.
Overview
The Audio stimuli task plays audio content using the HTML5 audio player. It supports auto-play, volume control, looping, and can require participants to listen to the full recording before advancing.
Common research uses include:
- Auditory memory: Listen to words or sounds for later recall
- Music psychology: Present musical excerpts for rating or analysis
- Speech perception: Play spoken stimuli for identification or discrimination tasks
- Auditory priming: Brief audio exposure before a target task
Where to Configure
Study form → Tasks → Stimuli tasks → Audio → Configure.
Configuration Parameters
Audio-Specific Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Media URL | string | '' | URL of the audio file (MP3 recommended) |
| Auto Play | boolean | true | Start playing automatically when displayed |
| Show Controls | boolean | false | Show audio player controls |
| Loop | boolean | false | Repeat the audio continuously |
| Volume | number | 0.8 | Default volume level (0.0 to 1.0) |
| Require Full Playback | boolean | true | Participant must listen to the end before advancing |
Common Stimuli Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Button Text | string | 'Continue' | Text for advancement button |
| Background Color (hex) | string | 'FFFFFF' | Background color |
Participant Flow
- The audio begins playing (automatically if Auto Play is on, or the participant clicks play).
- If controls are shown, the participant can pause, seek, or adjust volume.
- If Require Full Playback is enabled, the Continue button is disabled until the audio ends.
- After the audio finishes, the participant clicks Continue to advance.
Design Recommendations
- Format: Use MP3 for maximum browser compatibility.
- Sample rate: 44.1 kHz sample rate is standard for research-quality audio.
- Volume normalization: Normalize loudness across all audio clips to ensure consistent presentation.
- Volume guidance: Provide participants with volume adjustment instructions before the task begins.
- Full playback: Enable Require Full Playback for critical stimuli to ensure complete exposure.
- Autoplay policies: Modern browsers may block autoplay; require a user interaction (e.g., clicking a "Start" button) before audio tasks.
Common Issues and Solutions
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Audio doesn't play | Check the URL; ensure the format is MP3; test on the target browser |
| Audio not starting automatically | Browser autoplay policies may block it; require user interaction before audio |
| Volume too loud or too quiet | Normalize volume across files; set an appropriate default Volume level |
| Participants skip before listening | Enable Require Full Playback; disable the Continue button until playback completes |
Data Output
Markers and Responses
Markers (stimulus_shown):
{
"type": "stimulus_shown",
"ts": "2024-01-01T00:00:01.000Z",
"hr": 1234.56,
"data": {
"type": "audio",
"url": "https://example.com/audio/clip.mp3"
}
}
Markers (response_recorded):
{
"type": "response_recorded",
"ts": "2024-01-01T00:00:15.000Z",
"hr": 15234.56
}
Response Data:
{
"type": "audio"
}
Summary Artifact
None. The audio stimulus task does not generate a summary artifact.
References
References depend on the specific auditory stimuli used. For general audio presentation:
- Foroni, F., & Semin, G. R. (2009). Language that puts you in touch with your bodily feelings: The multimodal responsiveness of affective expressions. Psychological Science, 20(8), 974-980.
Auditory stimuli databases:
- IADS: International Affective Digitized Sounds
- Speech Corpora: TIMIT, LibriSpeech