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Measurement of Vibration Detection Threshold and Tactile Spatial Acuity in Human Subjects
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Published on: September 1, 2016

Threshold fine structure affects amplitude modulation perception.

Stephan J Heise1, Manfred Mauermann, Jesko L Verhey

  • 1Institut fur Physik, Universitat Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany. stephan.heise@uni-oldenburg.de

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
|January 29, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Sensitivity to amplitude modulation detection varies with carrier position relative to the quiet threshold fine structure. Higher thresholds were observed when the carrier was at a fine-structure minimum compared to a maximum, impacting auditory perception.

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Area of Science:

  • Auditory perception
  • Psychoacoustics
  • Signal processing in hearing

Background:

  • The perception of amplitude modulation (AM) is crucial for understanding speech and sound.
  • Auditory thresholds in quiet exhibit fine structure related to frequency-dependent hearing sensitivity.
  • The precise influence of this fine structure on AM detection is not fully elucidated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how the position of a low-level carrier tone within the quiet threshold's fine structure affects modulation detection thresholds.
  • To determine if carrier sound pressure level or sensation level influences the observed effects.

Main Methods:

  • Measurements of modulation detection thresholds for a sinusoidally amplitude-modulated tone.
  • Systematic variation of the carrier tone's position relative to the fine structure of the audiometric threshold in quiet.
  • Comparison of thresholds at different carrier levels (sound pressure level and sensation level).

Main Results:

  • Modulation detection thresholds were significantly higher when the carrier was positioned at a fine-structure minimum of the quiet threshold.
  • Thresholds were lower when the carrier was positioned at a fine-structure maximum.
  • These effects persisted irrespective of whether the carrier's sound pressure level or sensation level was equated.

Conclusions:

  • The frequency characteristics of the quiet threshold's fine structure substantially influence auditory sensitivity to amplitude modulation.
  • Even minor frequency shifts of the carrier can lead to significant variations in AM detection performance.
  • This highlights the importance of considering the detailed spectral properties of hearing when assessing modulation perception.