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FACTORS GOVERNING THE CONFUSION OF A SUPRATHRESHOLD SIGNAL WITH A FORWARD MASKER
Abstract
Performance in some auditory detection tasks is limited by confusion which occurs when the listener incorrectly identifies a suprathreshold signal as part of the preceding masker. This study investigated confusion effects for sinusoidal signals and three types of forward maskers: sinusoidal, narrowband-noise, and "pulsing" maskers composed of repeated bursts of a sinusoid. With each masker, two categories of procedures were used to measure signal threshold: procedures designed to measure confusion-determined thresholds, if confusion were present, and procedures designed to resolve or avoid confusion. Confusion effects were demonstrated for pulsing maskers combined with signals that had the same parameters as an individual masker pulse, as well as with signals ranging from roughly one half to twice the masker-pulse duration. Within this range, performance was relatively poorer for signals longer than the masker pulse. The minimum offset-to-onset delay necessary to resolve confusion between a pulsing-masker and a signal identical to the masker pulse increased with masker-pulse duration. Confusion had little influence on the masking produced by the sinusoidal masker. Results for the narrowband-noise masker were similar to those obtained with the pulsing masker in that confusion affected performance for signals ranging from roughly one half to twice the duration of the average time between envelope minima. In general, the primary factor producing confusion is the degree of spectral and temporal similarity between the forward masker and the signal. Confusion can best be avoided with the use of brief signals and a delay between masker offset and signal onset. Even when the potential for confusion exists, its effect can be minimized by extensive listener practice and by the use of procedures that avoid presenting the signal at levels close to that of the masker.
Subject Area
Psychology|Experiments
Recommended Citation
NEFF, DONNA LYNN, "FACTORS GOVERNING THE CONFUSION OF A SUPRATHRESHOLD SIGNAL WITH A FORWARD MASKER" (1983). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI8328184.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI8328184