Effects of auditory fatigue on psychophysical estimates of cochlear nonlinearities

Two-tone-suppression (2TS) effects and cubic-difference-tone (CDT) levels were measured using a forward-masking procedure, before and after exposure to an intense tonal stimulus. Changes in 2TS effects were consistent with a change in the nonlinearity, such that the system became more linear, in addition to changes due to attenuation of the primary stimuli F1 and F2. Changes in CDT levels could be accounted for on the basis of a temporary threshold shift at F1 and F2. These results indicate at least a partial dissociation of the mechanisms underlying 2TS and CDT generation.