Simultaneous pure-tone masking: The dependence of masking asymmetries on intensity

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Phase locking between probe and masker was used in a series of pure-tone masking experiments [in man]. The masker was a stationary sine wave of variable frequency; the probe a fixed-frequency tone burst. For small frequency separation the masking behaved asymmetrically around the probe frequency. This asymmetry depended on intensity. For a 1-kHz probe at low stimulus levels there was a maximum masking effect at about 60 Hz above the probe frequency, whereas at high levels maximum masking was produced at a frequency definitely below the probe frequency. These results were discussed in relation to current neurophysiological and psychophysical data. For the high-level asymmetry possible interpretations were suggested in terms of 2 changes in the excitation pattern of the basilar membrane, a shift of the top and/or a slope asymmetry, both increasing with level.

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: