title: Voice segregation by difference in fundamental frequency: effect of masker type.
abstract: Speech reception thresholds were measured for a voice against two different maskers: Either two concurrent voices with the same fundamental frequency (F0) or a harmonic complex with the same long-term excitation pattern and broadband temporal envelope as the masking sentences (speech-modulated buzz). All sources had steady F0s. A difference in F0 of 2 or 8 semitones provided a 5-dB benefit for buzz maskers, whereas it provided a 3- and 8-dB benefit, respectively, for masking sentences. Whether intelligibility of a voice increases abruptly with small ΔF0s or gradually toward larger ΔF0s seems to depend on the nature of the masker.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 818 Ross Research Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21205 mderoch2@jhmi.edu.
authors.forename: Mickael L D
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Deroche
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Culling
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D003463:Cues; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D046709:Pattern Recognition, Physiological; D010470:Perceptual Masking; D010898:Pitch Perception; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D013065:Speech Intelligibility; D013067:Speech Perception; D013069:Speech Reception Threshold Test; D014833:Voice Quality; D055815:Young Adult