Data of auditory and model experiments were qualitatively compared to explain the effects of deterioration and
facilitation of discrimination of the pulse intensity under masking. The pulse’ signal and pulse’ masker had a center
frequency of 4 kHz. Dependence of the threshold of discrimination of the signal intensity were the same under forward
and backward masking and when intensity of the standard signal was equal to 40 dB above the individual hearing threshold
(IHT), the intensity of the masker varied in the range of 10–70 dB IHT; delays between signal and masker were 20, 50, 80
or 130 ms, the frequency band of signal and masker were equal to 460 or 200 Hz. The thresholds were equal or less than
the threshold of discrimination of the signal intensity in silence (there is an effect to facilitation of
discrimination) at low masker intensity (10–30 dB IHT). The thresholds markedly increased at average masker intensity
(40–60 dB IRS) and an increase in masker intensity by 60 to 70 dB IHT induced growth impairment of or decrease in the
thresholds. In model experiments we compared the “absolute” (post- stimulus histograms) and “relative” (histogram of
distribution interspike interval and autocorrelation histogram) combination of ensemble reaction of models of the
auditory nerve bers produced at a constant average amplitude of the pulse’ signal and variable amplitude of the pulse’
masker. All histograms have two maxima, but the histogram of distribution interspike as well as the dependence of ratio
of these maxima on the masker’ amplitude were invariant to a temporary position signal and masker, their duration and
delays between two maxima. If the masker’ amplitude is less than or considerably higher the signal’ amplitude, the rst
maximum was greater than the second one. If the masker’ amplitude corresponds to the amplitude of the signal, on the
contrary, the rst maximum was less than a second one. We assume that the maxima of the histogram of distribution
interspike interval can be basis of the pulse’ signal loudness and strength of the pitch periodicity of the sound
complexes “masker – signal “. The hump of the discrimination thresholds, occurred at masker’ intensity of 40–60 dB can
appear due to “masking” the signal loudness by the strength of the pitch periodicity of the sound complexes. Decrease of
masking at high maker’ intensities improved auditory discrimination of the signal. Maskers with the low intensity was
not caused masking, so the signal discrimination was either the same as in silence or facilitated by comparing of two
subjective qualities.
Key words:
intensity discrimination, the loudness enhancement of a tone burst, forward and backward masking, the reaction of the
ensemble of the auditory nerve fibers, histogram of distribution of interspike intervals, post-stimulus histogram;
autocorrelation histogram
Cite:
Rimskaya-Korsakova L. K.
Slukhovoe raspoznavanie intensivnosti impulsov, zamaskirovannykh impulsnymi pomekhami: absolyutnaya i otnositelnaya gruppirovka vyzvannoi perifericheskoi reaktsii
[Auditory discrimination of pulse intensity under forward and backward masking: absolute and relative combination of the induced peripheral reaction].
Sensornye sistemy [Sensory systems].
2016.
V. 30(4).
P. 333-343 (in Russian).
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