A minimum number of cycles is required before a definite pitch is perceived

Evidence

The effect that the duration of a sound has on the perception of the pitch of a note is not a simple one, but it is summarized graphically in Figure 3.14 in terms of the minimum number of cycles required at a given f0 for a definite distinct pitch to be perceived. Shorter sounds may be perceived as being pitched rather than nonpitched, but the accuracy with which listeners can make such a judgment worsens as the duration of the sound drops below that shown in the figure. — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 922

Categorization

• QUESTION: Worth chasing: what is the actual minimum cycle count across the frequency range shown in Figure 3.14? The text references the figure but does not state the numbers.
• XREF: Links to the percussion-perception thread in the book and to psychoacoustic studies of tone duration and pitch.