Auditory categorization is a natural and adaptive process that
allows for the organization of high-dimensional, continuous acoustic
information into discrete representations. Studies in the visual
domain have identified a rule-based learning system that learns
and reasons via a hypothesis-testing process that requires working
memory and executive attention. The rule-based learning system
in vision shows a protracted development, reflecting the influence
of maturing prefrontal function on visual categorization. The aim of
the current study was twofold: (a) to examine the developmental
trajectory of rule-based auditory category learning from childhood
through adolescence and into early adulthood and (b) to examine
the extent to which individual differences in rule-based category
learning relate to individual differences in executive function. A
sample of 60 participants with normal hearing—20 children (age
range = 7–12 years), 21 adolescents (age range = 13–19 years),
and 19 young adults (age range = 20–23 years)—learned to categorize
novel dynamic ‘‘ripple” sounds using trial-by-trial feedback.
The spectrotemporally modulated ripple sounds are considered
the auditory equivalent of the well-studied ‘‘Gabor” patches in
the visual domain. Results reveal that auditory categorization
accuracy improved with age, with young adults outperforming
children and adolescents. Computational modeling analyses indicated
that the use of the task-optimal strategy (i.e., a conjunctive