Prediction of vibrotactile masking functions

Abstract
Threshold shifts for the detection of vibrotactile test stimuli were determined as a function of the intensity of a masker. The masking stimulus, narrow‐band noise centered at 275 Hz, and the test stimulus, a 15‐, 50‐, 80‐, or 300‐Hz sinusoidal burst, were applied to the same site on the thenar eminence of the hand. The intensity of the masker was varied over a range of 0 to 52 dB SL. The results support the hypothesis that the detection of vibrotactile stimuli is mediated by at least two receptor systems which do not mask each other.