Central Factor in Pure-Tone Auditory Fatigue

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Abstract
The present study was designed to evaluate the possibility that a listener''s level of mental activity constitutes an adequate central factor. Subjects were presented with a 4000-cps, 40- or 90-dB tone for 3 minutes under conditions of (a) a mental task or (b) reverie. Pre- and post-fatigue thresholds were measured with a switched (0.2 sec on, 0.2 seconds off) tone. For low-level (40 dB) fatigue the frequency of the test tone was 4000 cps and for high-level (90 dB) fatigue, 5656 cps. Subjects consistently showed greater temporary threshold shift and longer recovery time when the fatiguing tone was presented in the mental-task condition. Results thus indicate a central factor in pure-tone auditory fatigue. It is suggested that the degree of effect of a fatiguing tone is a function of the listener''s degree of mental activity during stimulation.

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