Effect of probe duration on psychoacoustical tuning curves obtained in forward masking

The duration of the probe affects the sharpness of tuning of psychoacoustical tuning curves obtained in forward masking. With probes of less than 30 ms, a major factor appears to be the increase in the frequency spread of spectral energy with decreasing duration. Even with low-level probes, the redistribution of energy within the mainlobe of the spectrum is considerable and increases off-frequency listening.