Effect of Pitch on the Asymmetry in Global Loudness Between Rising- and Falling-Intensity Sounds

Abstract

The global loudness of a varying intensity sound is greater when the intensity increases than when it decreases. This global loudness asymmetry was found to be larger for pure tones than for broadband noises. In this study, our aim was to determine whether this difference between pure tones and noises is due to the difference in bandwidth between sounds or to the difference in the strength of the sensation of pitch. The loudness asymmetry was measured for broadband and for narrow-band signals that do or do not elicit a sensation of pitch. The asymmetry was greater for sounds that elicit a sensation of pitch whatever their bandwidth. The loudness model for time varying sounds [1] predicted well the asymmetry for the broadband noise that does not elicit a sensation of pitch and for a multi-tonal sound. For the other sounds the asymmetry was greater than predicted. It is known that loudness and pitch interact. The difference in asymmetry between sounds that elicit pitch and sounds that do not elicit pitch might be due to this interaction.