Two‐tone unmasking and suppression in a forward‐masking situation
01 Jun 1976-Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (Acoustical Society of America)-Vol. 59, Iss: 6, pp 1460-1470
TL;DR: A forward‐masking situation was investigated where more energy added to the masker decreased the threshold of the signal, and the basic pattern of masking and ummasking was qualitatively similar to the pattern of pulsation thresholds observed by Houtgast.
Abstract: A forward‐masking situation was investigated where more energy added to the masker decreased the threshold of the signal. The signal was a single sinusoid. The masker contained two frequency components: one at the same frequency as the signal, and one at a variable frequency. For certain frequencies and intensities of this variable masker component the threshold of the signal was lower than if that component were not present.This decrease in threshold is unmasking. Unmasking is interpreted as being caused by the suppression of the fixed masker component by the variable masker component, thus producing less masking at the signal frequency. The basic pattern of masking and ummasking was qualitatively similar to the pattern of pulsation thresholds observed by Houtgast [Acustica 29, 168‐179 (1973). Unmasking was not observed at absolute threshold or in a simultaneous masking situation. Unmasking was observed at all signal frequencies tested (0.5–6.0 kHz) and was not dependent on the phase of the masker compon...
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TL;DR: Measurements from stimulation of a single channel at a time of cochlear implants indicate a central mechanism that is still intact in implant patients, and the shape of the threshold vs. frequency curve can be partially related to the membrane biophysics of the remaining spiral ganglion and/or dendrites.
382 citations
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26 May 2014
TL;DR: Cochlear hearing loss: Physiological, Psychological and technical issues, Cochlear Hearing loss:physiological, psychological and technical problems, کتابجیتال - آذرسا.
Abstract: Cochlear Hearing loss: Physiological, Psychological and technical issues , Cochlear Hearing loss: Physiological, Psychological and technical issues , کتابخانه الکترونیک و دیجیتال - آذرسا
309 citations
TL;DR: The forward masking of a sinusoidal signal by asinusoid of the same frequency was investigated for frequencies ranging from 125 to 4000 Hz and the frequency effect is not large enough to change the interpretation of forward-masking data in studies of suppression or psychophysical tuning curves.
Abstract: The forward masking of a sinusoidal signal by a sinusoid of the same frequency was investigated for frequencies ranging from 125 to 4000 Hz. Forward masking in dB is proportional to both masker level and log signal delay at each frequency. More forward masking occurs at very low frequencies than at high frequencies, given equal‐sensation‐level maskers, and masked thresholds are greater at low frequencies than at high frequencies given equal‐SPL maskers. The data can be described equally well by assuming that the difference in forward masking as a function of frequency is due to a change in the time course of recovery from masking or to a change in the growth of masking at each signal delay. The frequency effect is not large enough to change the interpretation of forward‐masking data in studies of suppression or psychophysical tuning curves.
291 citations
01 Jan 1980
TL;DR: This chapter discusses the evolution of hearing in the Mammals and the structure and function of the Avian Auditory System, as well as the nonlinear properties of the Peripheral Auditory system of Anurans.
Abstract: I Fishes.- 1 Structure and Function in Teleost Auditory Systems.- 2 Underwater Localization-A Major Problem in Fish Acoustics.- 3 Central Auditory Pathways in Anamniotic Vertebrates.- II Amphibians.- 4 The Structure of the Amphibian Auditory Periphery: A Unique Experiment in Terrestrial Hearing.- 5 Nonlinear Properties of the Peripheral Auditory System of Anurans.- III Reptiles.- 6 The Reptilian Cochlear Duct.- 7 Physiology and Bioacoustics in Reptiles.- IV Birds.- 8 Structure and Function of the Avian Ear.- 9 Behavior and Psychophysics of Hearing in Birds.- 10 Sound Localization in Birds.- 11 Response Properties of Neurons in the Avian Auditory System: Comparisons with Mammalian Homologues and Consideration of the Neural Encoding of Complex Stimuli.- PartV Mammals.- 12 Directional Hearing in Terrestrial Mammals.- 13 Comparative Organization of Mammalian Auditory Cortex.- 14 Man as Mammal: Psychoacoustics.- 15 The Evolution of Hearing in the Mammals.- VI Future View.- 16 Comparative Audition: Where Do We Go from Here?.
245 citations
TL;DR: It is concluded that neither the simultaneous-masking curves nor the forward- masking curves are likely to give an accurate representation of human neural tuning curves.
Abstract: The level of a masker necessary to mask a probe fixed in frequency and level was determined as a function of masker frequency using a two-interval forced-choice technique. Both simultaneous- and forward- masking techniques were used. Parameters investigated include the level of the probe tone and the frequency of the probe tone. The general form of the psychophysical tuning curves obtained in this way is quite similar to that of single-neurone tuning curves, when low-level probe tones are used. However, the curves obtained to forward masking generally show sharper tips and steeper slopes than those found in simultaneous masking, and they are also generally sharper than neurophysiological tuning curves. For frequencies of the masker close to that of the probe a simultaneous masker was sometimes less effective than a forward masker. The results are discussed in relation to possible lateral suppression effects in simultaneous masking, and in relation to the observer's use of pitch cues in forward masking. It is concluded that neither the simultaneous-masking curves nor the forward-masking curves are likely to give an accurate representation of human neural tuning curves.
214 citations