Binaural versus ipsilateral loudness adaptation: A simple relationship after all?

Abstract

Weiler and Hood [Audiology 16, 499–506 (1977)] reviewed a model of loudness adaptation proposed by Hood. They found that the model could predict adaptation measured by the traditional simultaneous dichotic loudness balance (SDLB) procedure within a few dB. However, failure to correlate this method with ipsilateral loudness adaptation forestalled attempts to convert the model to monaural/ipsilateral adaptation. The present paper reports success at finding a means of converting the Hood/Weiler model to results from the ipsilateral comparison paradigm. Results from the magnitude estimated ipsilateral procedure appear to be mathematically related in a simple way to adaptation expected from the binaural SDLB procedure. Pertinence of an interpretation based on powers of 2 will be discussed.