Perceptual and physiological narrowband masking of low tones

Abstract

Two low pitch tones (140, 250 Hz) and three higher pitch tones (365, 500, 1000 Hz) were masked using four narrowband noise maskers. Threshold data suggest that the separation between center frequency of masker and tone frequency has less influence on the masking function for the two lower tones than for the three higher tones. These results were then compared with “physiological” masking of the farfield Frequency‐Following Response (FFR) evoked by the middle (365 Hz) tone. The function thus obtained closely approached the perceptual masking function obtained for the two lower tones, but deviated, substantially, from the function characterizing the three higher tones. These results were interpreted as supporting the hypothesis that the perception of some low tones is mediated, in large part, by neural volleying. The reduced influence of noise center frequency on the masking of low tones suggests that these tones may be perceived through volleying of a diverse neuronal population. The mixed evidence surroun...