The relation between loudness and intensity difference limens for tones in quiet and noise backgrounds

Recent studies of the relation between loudness and intensity difference limens (DLs) suggest that, if two tones of the same frequency are equally loud, they will have equal relative DLs [R. S. Schlauch and C.C. Wier, J. Speech Hear. Res. 30, 13-20 (1987); J.J. Zwislocki and H.N. Jordan, J. Acoust....

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Published inThe Journal of the Acoustical Society of America Vol. 84; no. 1; p. 150
Main Authors Rankovic, C M, Viemeister, N F, Fantini, D A, Cheesman, M F, Uchiyama, C L
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.07.1988
Subjects
Audiometry, Pure-Tone
Auditory Pathways - physiology
Auditory Threshold
Female
Humans
Loudness Perception - physiology
Male
Noise
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Summary:Recent studies of the relation between loudness and intensity difference limens (DLs) suggest that, if two tones of the same frequency are equally loud, they will have equal relative DLs [R. S. Schlauch and C.C. Wier, J. Speech Hear. Res. 30, 13-20 (1987); J.J. Zwislocki and H.N. Jordan, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 79, 772-780 (1986)]. To test this hypothesis, loudness matches and intensity DLs for a 1000-Hz pure tone in quiet and in a 40-dB SPL spectrum level broadband noise were obtained for four subjects with normal hearing. The DLs were obtained in both gated- and continuous-pedestal conditions. Contrary to previous reports, equally loud tones do not yield equal relative DLs at several midintensities in the gated condition and at many intensities in the continuous condition. While the equal-loudness, equal-relative-DL hypothesis is not supported by the data, the relation between loudness and intensity discrimination appears to be well described by a model reported by Houtsma et al. [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 68, 807-813 (1980)].
ISSN:0001-4966
DOI:10.1121/1.396981