The relations among critical ratios, critical bands, and intensity difference limens in man

Band-narrowing estimates of the critical bandwidth (CB) are consistently larger than critical-ratio (CR) estimates for the same signal frequency. Bilger [in Hearing and Davis: Essays Honoring Hallowell Davis, edited by S.K. Hirsh et al. (Washington U.P., St. Louis, 1976), p. 191] proposed that this difference could be accounted for by reference to intensity-discrimination performance [CR(Hz)/CB(Hz) = delta I/I]. To test this hypothesis, band-narrowing, critical-ratio, and intensity-discrimination data were collected for four normally hearing, well-trained listeners. Signal frequency was 2000 Hz and two noise levels were used: 20 and 50 dB N0. The relations proposed by Bilger among critical-bandwidth estimates from band-narrowing experiments, critical-ratio estimates from pure-tone detection in wideband noise, and intensity discrimination for a critical-band-wide noise in wideband noise are not supported by the results of individual listeners, or results averaged across listeners.