title: The effects of age on temporal fine structure sensitivity in monaural and binaural conditions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To extend the study of Hopkins and Moore (2011) by examining the effect of age in the medium age range on sensitivity to temporal fine structure (TFS), which is assumed to be represented in the patterns of phase locking in the auditory nerve.
  
  
  METHODS
  Monaural TFS sensitivity was assessed using the TFS1 test (Moore & Sek, 2009) at centre frequencies of 850 and 2000 Hz, and binaural TFS sensitivity was assessed using the TFS-LF test (Hopkins & Moore, 2010a) at centre frequencies of 500 and 850 Hz, using a sensation level of 30 dB.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five newly recruited normal-hearing subjects (thresholds better than 20 dB HL from 250 to 6000 Hz) were tested. Their ages ranged from 22 to 61 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant correlation between age and TFS sensitivity at all frequencies for both TFS tests. For the single centre frequency (850 Hz) that was used for both tests, scores for the two tests were modestly but significantly correlated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sensitivity to TFS decreases with increasing age. The monaural and binaural TFS tests appear to reflect at least somewhat distinct auditory processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. bcjm@cam.ac.uk
authors.forename: Brian C J
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Deborah A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Vickers
authors.forename: Anahita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mehta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006309:Hearing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult