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A test of the equal-loudness-ratio hypothesis using cross-modality matching functions
Michael Epstein1, Mary Florentine
1Institute for Hearing, Speech, and Language and Communications and Digital Signal Processing Center, ECE Department (440 DA), Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. mepstein@ece.neu.edu
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
|September 15, 2005
Summary
The Equal-Loudness-Ratio hypothesis was tested, finding loudness ratios between tones are mostly constant regardless of sound pressure level (SPL). Temporal integration, however, varied with SPL, supporting the hypothesis except at low sound levels.
Area of Science:
- Acoustic psychoacoustics
- Auditory perception research
- Loudness perception and temporal integration
Background:
- The Equal-Loudness-Ratio hypothesis posits a constant loudness ratio between tones of different durations at equal sound pressure levels (SPL).
- Temporal integration, the effect of sound duration on perceived loudness, is known to vary with sound level.
- This variation suggests potential deviations from the Equal-Loudness-Ratio hypothesis at different SPLs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To empirically test the Equal-Loudness-Ratio hypothesis using varying sound pressure levels.
- To investigate the relationship between temporal integration and the loudness function's form.
- To determine if the loudness ratio between short and long tones remains constant across different SPLs.
Main Methods:
- Utilized equal-loudness matching and cross-modality string-length matching.
- Assessed loudness functions for 5 ms and 200 ms tones at 1 kHz.
- Measured loudness ratios between the different duration tones at various SPLs.
Main Results:
- Temporal integration was maximal at moderate sound pressure levels, consistent with prior research.
- Loudness functions exhibited their shallowest slopes at moderate SPLs.
- The loudness ratio between 200 ms and 5 ms tones was largely constant, except at low SPLs where it increased.
Conclusions:
- Findings generally support the Equal-Loudness-Ratio hypothesis, particularly at moderate and high sound pressure levels.
- Deviations from the hypothesis were observed at low sound pressure levels.
- The study highlights the complex interplay between temporal integration and loudness perception across different sound levels.
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