Spectro-temporal integration in signal detection

Abstract

This paper is concerned with aspects of temporal integration and across-frequency integration in signal detection. Previous experiments on the detection of brief broadband signals (clicks) in continuous broadband noise revealed efficient spectral integration. The extent to which this effect is restricted to a critical time window was investigated by manipulating the temporal relations among the signal components in different frequency regions. In a typical experiment, the signal consists of nine brief Gaussian-shaped tone pulses, equally distributed at 1/3-oct intervals, each with a spectral width of about 1/3 oct, and each equally detectable in white noise. In the synchronized condition (i.e. coinciding peaks of the nine Gaussian envelopes), the detection threshold is reached when the levels of the nine individual tone pulses are about 8 dB below their individual threshold levels (efficient spectral integration). When the signal is progressively desynchronized (i.e. noncoinciding peaks of the Gaussian envelopes), detection threshold is found to increase. This suggests that efficient spectral integration in signal detection is confined to a narrow time window, with a typical value of 30 ms. Similar experiments were performed with respect to the efficiency of temporal integration. For constant-duration signals (100 ms), the detection threshold is found to increase when progressively widening signal bandwidth. The data indicate that the efficient temporal integration in signal detection is confined to a narrow frequency window, which, not surprisingly, corresponds to the critical bandwidth.