Influence of signal duration on the masking-level difference.
The effect of signal duration on the 500-Hz masking-level difference was studied in 4 subjects using an adaptive, two-interval, forced-choice method. SoNo, S pi No, and SoN pi thresholds for 13 signal durations between 2 and 100 ms were established in continuous broadband noise (36.2 dB pressure-spectrum level). The signals were synthesized and gated digitally with 1-ms rise-fall times. The SoNo threshold integration functions diverged from the S pi No or the SoN pi threshold integration functions as the signal duration was reduced from 100 ms to 6-10 ms. As the signal duration was reduced below 6-10 ms, however, the threshold integration functions for SoNo, S pi No, and SoN pi converged. The relationships among the threshold integration functions were reflected in the SoNo-S pi No and the SoNo-SoN pi masking-level differences that increased as the signal duration was reduced from 100 to 6-10 ms and then decreased as the signal duration was reduced below 6-10 ms.
Wilson
R H
RH
Veterans Administration Medical Center, Long Beach, CA 90822.
Fugleberg
R A
RA
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D001307:Auditory Perception; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010470:Perceptual Masking; D013997:Time Factors