Loudness Perception for Short-Duration Tones in Masking Noise

1977 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 684-693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan M. Richards
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Summation ◽  
Sound Pressure ◽  
Tone Burst ◽  
Pressure Level ◽  
Operating Characteristics ◽  
Comparison Tone ◽  
Line Segments ◽  
Below The Knee ◽  
Test Conditions ◽  
Masking Noise

The effect of masking noise on the temporal summation of loudness is investigated here by performing loudness balances between a standard 500-msec tone burst (1000 Hz at either 20-, 50-, or 80-dB SPL) and either masked or unmasked comparison tone bursts (1000 Hz with durations between 10 and 640 msec). In all but two instances, the obtained functions relating SPL for equal loudness to stimulus duration could be plotted as two line segments that met to form a knee. The slopes of the line segments at durations less than the kneepoints are altered by the masking noise, becoming less steep with increased masking. The rate of the slope decrease is related to the standard sound pressure level (SPL) and is greatest using the 80-dB SPL standard and least with the 20-dB SPL standard. Temporal summation of loudness continues at durations above the kneepoints. However, the obtained slopes are less than those found below the knee, and are independent of the test conditions. The slope changes are found to be related to the noise producing a power transformation on the operating characteristics of the auditory system. These latter findings are discussed in relation to Zwislocki’s quantitative theory of the temporal summation of loudness.

Electrocochleography in the Presence and Absence of Perilymphatic Fistula

1992 ◽  
Vol 101 (5) ◽  
pp. 403-407 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen C. M. Campbell ◽  
Michael M. Savage ◽  
Lee A. Harker
Keyword(s):  
Sound Pressure Level ◽  
Guinea Pigs ◽  
Sound Pressure ◽  
Amplitude Ratio ◽  
Round Window ◽  
Tone Burst ◽  
Pressure Level ◽  
Round Window Membrane ◽  
Perilymphatic Fistula ◽  
Summating Potential

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of an acute perilymphatic fistula on the amplitude ratio (SP/AP) of the summating potential (SP) and action potential (AP). The effect of the acute fistula on AP threshold was also addressed. Electrocochleo-graphic recordings were obtained before and immediately after surgical laceration of the round window membrane in 19 guinea pigs. Stimuli comprised clicks and 2,000-Hz and 8,000-Hz tone bursts, presented initially at 100 dB peak equivalent sound pressure level and in descending 10-dB steps. After fistula induction the SP/AP significantly increased for the click and 8,000-Hz tone burst stimuli but not for the 2,000-Hz tone burst stimuli. No significant change in AP threshold occurred. These findings suggest that the SP/AP may be sensitive to perilymphatic fistula, at least in guinea pigs. The changes in the SP/AP do not appear to be related to changes in threshold.

Temporal Gap Detection in Sensorineural and Simulated Hearing Impairments

1984 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 449-455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Florentine ◽  
Søren Buus
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Temporal Resolution ◽  
Sound Pressure Level ◽  
Sound Pressure ◽  
Pressure Level ◽  
Gap Detection ◽  
Hearing Impairments ◽  
Low Pass ◽  
Masking Noise ◽  
Per Se

The objectives of this study were to assess the effect of the configuration of a hearing loss on gap detection and to determine if hearing impairment affects temporal resolution, per se. The minimum detectable gap duration, MDG, in a low-pass (cut-off at 7 kHz) noise was measured monaurally as a function of sound pressure level in six listeners with normal hearing, seven with hearing impairments of primarily cochlear origin, and eight with impairments simulated by masking. The impaired listeners' MDGs at 80 and 90 dB vary from about 3.5 ms (equal to the normal MDG) to about 8 ms and show little correlation with their average HL. At lower levels, the MDG is enlarged for all impaired listeners owing to the decreased SL of the noise. Most of the enlargement of the MDG could be reproduced by presenting a normal listener with a masking noise spectrally shaped to simulate the impaired listener's audiogram. However, at high levels, some impaired listeners performed worse than their simulated-loss counterparts, indicating that temporal resolution per se may be reduced in some, but not all, impaired listeners.

Contributions of Voice and Nonverbal Communication to Perceived Masculinity–Femininity for Cisgender and Transgender Communicators

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 931-947
Author(s):  
Teresa L. D. Hardy ◽  
Carol A. Boliek ◽  
Daniel Aalto ◽  
Justin Lewicke ◽  
Kristopher Wells ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Sound Pressure Level ◽  
Sound Pressure ◽  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Presentation Mode ◽  
Pressure Level ◽  
Presentation Modes ◽  
Audiovisual Stimuli ◽  
Vocal Tract Resonance ◽  
Point Light

Purpose The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to identify a set of communication-based predictors (including both acoustic and gestural variables) of masculinity–femininity ratings and (b) to explore differences in ratings between audio and audiovisual presentation modes for transgender and cisgender communicators. Method The voices and gestures of a group of cisgender men and women ( n = 10 of each) and transgender women ( n = 20) communicators were recorded while they recounted the story of a cartoon using acoustic and motion capture recording systems. A total of 17 acoustic and gestural variables were measured from these recordings. A group of observers ( n = 20) rated each communicator's masculinity–femininity based on 30- to 45-s samples of the cartoon description presented in three modes: audio, visual, and audio visual. Visual and audiovisual stimuli contained point light displays standardized for size. Ratings were made using a direct magnitude estimation scale without modulus. Communication-based predictors of masculinity–femininity ratings were identified using multiple regression, and analysis of variance was used to determine the effect of presentation mode on perceptual ratings. Results Fundamental frequency, average vowel formant, and sound pressure level were identified as significant predictors of masculinity–femininity ratings for these communicators. Communicators were rated significantly more feminine in the audio than the audiovisual mode and unreliably in the visual-only mode. Conclusions Both study purposes were met. Results support continued emphasis on fundamental frequency and vocal tract resonance in voice and communication modification training with transgender individuals and provide evidence for the potential benefit of modifying sound pressure level, especially when a masculine presentation is desired.

Influence of the Acoustic Reflex on Vowel Recognition

1986 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 420-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Dorman ◽  
Ingrid Cedar ◽  
Maureen Hannley ◽  
Marjorie Leek ◽  
Julie Mapes Lindholm
Keyword(s):  
Auditory System ◽  
Sound Pressure ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Recognition Accuracy ◽  
Pressure Level ◽  
Acoustic Reflex ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Stapedial Reflex ◽  
Vowel Recognition ◽  
High Sound

Computer synthesized vowels of 50- and 300-ms duration were presented to normal-hearing listeners at a moderate and high sound pressure level (SPL). Presentation at the high SPL resulted in poor recognition accuracy for vowels of a duration (50 ms) shorter than the latency of the acoustic stapedial reflex. Presentation level had no effect on recognition accuracy for vowels of sufficient duration (300 ms) to elicit the reflex. The poor recognition accuracy for the brief, high intensity vowels was significantly improved when the reflex was preactivated. These results demonstrate the importance of the acoustic reflex in extending the dynamic range of the auditory system for speech recognition.

Case study: Theoretical calculation model and variable condition analysis research on the water-splashing noise for natural draft wet cooling towers

2020 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-145
Author(s):  
Yang Zhouo ◽  
Ming Gao ◽  
Suoying He ◽  
Yuetao Shi ◽  
Fengzhong Sun
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Model ◽  
Sound Pressure Level ◽  
Water Droplet ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
Sound Pressure ◽  
Cooling Tower ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Calculation Model ◽  
Pressure Level ◽  
Cooling Towers

Based on the basic theory of water droplets impact noise, the generation mechanism and calculation model of the water-splashing noise for natural draft wet cooling towers were established in this study, and then by means of the custom software, the water-splashing noise was studied under different water droplet diameters and water-spraying densities as well as partition water distribution patterns conditions. Comparedwith the water-splashing noise of the field test, the average difference of the theoretical and the measured value is 0.82 dB, which validates the accuracy of the established theoretical model. The results based on theoretical model showed that, when the water droplet diameters are smaller in cooling tower, the attenuation of total sound pressure level of the water-splashing noise is greater. From 0 m to 8 m away from the cooling tower, the sound pressure level of the watersplashing noise of 3 mm and 6 mm water droplets decreases by 8.20 dB and 4.36 dB, respectively. Additionally, when the water-spraying density becomes twice of the designed value, the sound pressure level of water-splashing noise all increases by 3.01 dB for the cooling towers of 300 MW, 600 MW and 1000 MW units. Finally, under the partition water distribution patterns, the change of the sound pressure level is small. For the R s/2 and Rs/3 partition radius (Rs is the radius of water-spraying area), when the water-spraying density ratio between the outer and inner zone increases from 1 to 3, the sound pressure level of water-splashing noise increases by 0.7 dB and 0.3 dB, respectively.

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