Abstract
The detectability of a sequence of equal-frequency tone pips masked by random multi-burst complexes may depend on the perceptual segregation of the signal stream from the random masker. If so, detection thresholds may be independent of whether the signal frequency is known versus uncertain. In this experiment observers detected a signal stream of 8 sequential equal-frequency 30 ms tone pips embedded in a random masker composed of 8 sequential bursts. A yes/no procedure was used, and the independent variable p (probability a tone was played at a particular time-by-frequency location) governed the number of masker tones in each burst. The dependent variable was d. Threshold values of p were obtained for signal streams at 5 different frequencies. Sensitivity was superior for the mid-frequency signal, and decreased as the signal frequencies approached the edge of the frequencies the masker tones occupied (200–5000 Hz). When the frequency of the signal stream was randomly varied from trial to trial, sensitivity was poorer than for any of the fixed-frequency signals. Thus, the detectability of a sequence of tone pips is reduced when the signal frequency is uncertain compared to certain. Additionally, sensitivity increased when the signal stream was delayed relative to the masker bursts.
Published Version
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