Adaptation and Fatigue

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Abstract
Any audible tone produces measurable changes in the response of the ear to subsequent stimulation. With exposures up to about 70 dB [decibels] the response changes can be attributed entirely to neural adaptation. At higher levels, fatigue adds to adaptation. These processes have been separately identified by temporary threshold shift (TTS) experiments showing adaptation as primarily a reduction in loudness response and fatigue as primarily a reduction in sensitivity. Adapted ears show a TTS of 5-10 dB when the threshold is obtained by interpolation between audible and sub audible stimuli, but trained observers tested by a method that minimized the effect of loudness showed only 1 dB TTS.

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