Interaural time difference thresholds as a function of frequency. 2013

William M Hartmann, and Larisa Dunai, and Tianshu Qu
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. hartmann@pa.msu.edu

Different models of the binaural system make different predictions for the just-detectable interaural time difference (ITD) for sine tones. To test these models, ITD thresholds were measured for human listeners focusing on high- and low-frequency regions. The measured thresholds exhibited a minimum between 700 and 1,000 Hz. As the frequency increased above 1,000 Hz, thresholds rose faster than exponentially. Although finite thresholds could be measured at 1,400 Hz, experiments did not converge at 1,450 Hz and higher. A centroid computation along the interaural delay axis, within the context of the Jeffress model, can successfully simulate the minimum and the high-frequency dependence. In the limit of medium-low frequencies (f), where f . ITD << 1, mathematical approximations predict low-­ frequency slopes for the centroid model and for a rate-code model. It was found that measured thresholds were approximately inversely proportional to the frequency (slope = –1) in agreement with a rate-code model. However, the centroid model is capable of a wide range of predictions (slopes from 0 to –2).

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008959 Models, Neurological Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of the neurological system, processes or phenomena; includes the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment. Neurologic Models,Model, Neurological,Neurologic Model,Neurological Model,Neurological Models,Model, Neurologic,Models, Neurologic
D010898 Pitch Perception A dimension of auditory sensation varying with cycles per second of the sound stimulus. Perception, Pitch,Perceptions, Pitch,Pitch Perceptions
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000161 Acoustic Stimulation Use of sound to elicit a response in the nervous system. Auditory Stimulation,Stimulation, Acoustic,Stimulation, Auditory
D001307 Auditory Perception The process whereby auditory stimuli are selected, organized, and interpreted by the organism. Auditory Processing,Perception, Auditory,Processing, Auditory
D001309 Auditory Threshold The audibility limit of discriminating sound intensity and pitch. Auditory Thresholds,Threshold, Auditory,Thresholds, Auditory
D013017 Sound Localization Ability to determine the specific location of a sound source. Auditory Localization,Auditory Localizations,Localization, Auditory,Localization, Sound,Localizations, Auditory,Localizations, Sound,Sound Localizations

Related Publications

William M Hartmann, and Larisa Dunai, and Tianshu Qu
July 1999, The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America,
William M Hartmann, and Larisa Dunai, and Tianshu Qu
January 1975, The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America,
William M Hartmann, and Larisa Dunai, and Tianshu Qu
March 1977, The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America,
William M Hartmann, and Larisa Dunai, and Tianshu Qu
September 1987, Die Naturwissenschaften,
William M Hartmann, and Larisa Dunai, and Tianshu Qu
June 1973, The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America,
William M Hartmann, and Larisa Dunai, and Tianshu Qu
January 2022, Frontiers in synaptic neuroscience,
William M Hartmann, and Larisa Dunai, and Tianshu Qu
September 2012, Hearing research,
William M Hartmann, and Larisa Dunai, and Tianshu Qu
May 2015, Hearing research,
Copied contents to your clipboard!