It has been reported [D. McFadden, J. Acoust. Soc. Amer. 40, 1414–1419 (1966)] that the magnitude of the advantage exhibited by the binaural auditory system over the monaural auditory system when detecting a pulsed tonal signal in a background of pulsed masking noise is partially determined by the amount of time by which the onset of the pulsed masker precedes the onset of the pulsed signal. The present study was intended to determine whether the magnitude of the binaural advantage could also be increased by extending the duration of the masker beyond the offset of the signal. In this masking condition the onsets of the signal and masker occur simultaneously, but the offset of the signal precedes the offset of the masker. The results indicate that the magnitude of the binaural advantage increases slightly as the masker extends beyond the offset of the signal. The results are discussed in reference to current explanations of binaural detection phenomena.
Psychophysical measurements of two-tone masking [E. Zwicker, Acustica 4, 415-420 (1954)] were made at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz utilizing a masker level of 62 dB SPL/tone. Fifty-eight "untrained" subjects were tested using a single run of a 4IFC adaptive procedure for each condition. Individual data were highly variable. Average data were systematic; they were analyzed using a two-line-regression procedure and the obtained critical-bandwidth estimates approximated normative values. Analysis of the literature revealed that a substantial increase of estimated critical bandwidth versus masker level occurs in two-tone masking. A portion of this increase appears artificial and stems from the relative effectiveness of the higher frequency masker tone at high masker levels. An alternative masker-frequency spacing is suggested to reduce level effects. Implications for an underlying critical-band mechanism are discussed.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.