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Published on: January 23, 2017
Investigating temporal asymmetry using masking period patterns and models of peripheral auditory processing
1Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405-7000, USA. jjlentz@indiana.edu
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
|May 17, 2011
Summary
This study investigated temporal asymmetry in sound perception. Peripheral auditory models did not explain perceptual differences, suggesting the central auditory system plays a key role.
Area of Science:
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Psychoacoustics
- Signal Processing
Background:
- Temporal asymmetry in sound perception is influenced by peripheral auditory processing.
- Neural adaptation and peripheral nonlinearity are key factors in auditory processing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the roles of peripheral nonlinearity and neural adaptation in perceiving temporally asymmetric sounds.
- To investigate the contribution of the central auditory system to temporal asymmetry perception.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments using amplitude-modulated broadband noise maskers with ramped and damped exponential modulators.
- Masking Period Patterns (MPPs) measured by tone burst detection thresholds across signal onset delays.
- Evaluation of two peripheral auditory models: one with power-law nonlinearity, another with neural adaptation.
Main Results:
- Modulator half-life variations (1-16 ms) produced larger differences in MPPs at shorter durations.
- The greatest difference between ramped and damped MPPs occurred at moderate masker levels.
- Neither peripheral model accurately predicted the observed differences in MPPs.
Conclusions:
- Peripheral auditory models incorporating nonlinearity and adaptation do not fully account for perceptual temporal asymmetry.
- Findings indirectly support a significant role for the central auditory system in processing temporally asymmetric sounds.
