Abstract
Several modifications of Stevens’ power law have been introduced to account for the steepening of the loudness function below about 40 dB SPL. The relation between intensity discrimination (ΔI/I) and loudness is determined for three proposed modifications: (a) Ls=K(I−I0)n, (b) Ls=K(In−I0n), and (c) Ls=k([I+cI0]n−[cI0]n), where I0 is the sound intensity at threshold. Below 15 dB SPL Eqs. (a) and (b) generate a rapidly decreasing function for intensity discrimination, whereas the function derived from Eq. (c) rises with a slope of −1 in log–log coordinates. The slope of the measured intensity-discrimination function is compatible with results predicted for pure tones from Eq. (c) but not with those predicted from Eqs. (a) and (b). [Work supported in part by NIH.]
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