Forward masking patterns for harmonic complex tones.
Complex tones containing the first ten harmonics at equal amplitude, and with fundamental frequencies of 100, 200, or 400 Hz, served as maskers for brief sinusoidal signals (10-, 20-, or 40-ms duration) presented immediately following the maskers. Threshold was measured as a function of signal frequency, using an adaptive, two-alternative forced-choice procedure. The starting phase of the signal relative to the masker had no significant effect on threshold. The masking patterns showed clear peaks corresponding to the first 3 or 4 harmonics, but no peaks were visible for higher harmonics. It is concluded that the "ripple" in the internal spectra of the maskers amounts to 3 dB or less for harmonics above the fifth.
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010470:Perceptual Masking; D011571:Psychoacoustics; D013018:Sound Spectrography; D013997:Time Factors