Frequency discrimination at 1200 Hz in the presence of high-frequency masking noise.
To evaluate the possible contribution of high-frequency hearing to frequency discrimination at lower frequencies, pure-tone frequency discrimination tasks at 1200 Hz, with and without high-frequency masking noise, were performed by two highly practiced normal-hearing listeners. Signal levels ranged from 10 to 80 dB SPL. Spectra of the three high-frequency masking noises ranged from 1.8 to 2.1 kHz, from 2.8 to 3.1 kHz, and from 4 to 8 kHz. The frequency difference limen (DLF) intensity functions, describing DLFs as a function of signal level which were obtained in the presence of high-frequency masking noise, were essentially the same as the DLF intensity functions obtained without masking noise. These results indicate that high-frequency hearing is not necessary for acute frequency discriminations at low and at middle frequencies.
D000328:Adult; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D003051:Cochlea / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010470:Perceptual Masking / Q000502:physiology