The microstructure of quiet and masked thresholds

Factors leading to the microstructure of the audiogram (a constant pattern of threshold maxima and minima as a function of frequency) are shown to influence masked thresholds, changing the shape of masking functions when both constant and variable tonal maskers are used. Simultaneous masking with broadband noise gradually reduces the difference between threshold maxima and minima until no further differences can be seen when masked thresholds are above 40-50 dB SPL. Nonsimultaneous masking with broadband noise reveals a changed microstructure when thresholds are elevated above 30-40 dB SPL. Thus in both simultaneous and nonsimultaneous masking the rate of threshold growth with increasing masker level is different for tones from threshold minima than for tones from threshold maxima. These psychophysical measures are related to measures of evoked cochlear emissions and the results are discussed in terms of the implications for understanding the cochlear mechanisms responsible for the microstructure and for the interpretation of psychophysical measures with low level stimuli.