Efficient across-frequency integration in short-signal detection

Abstract

A series of experiments was performed on the influence of bandwidth on the masked threshold of brief deterministic signals in continuous broadband noise. The signal bandwidth is quantified by the number (n) of constituent 1/3-oct bands. For n increasing from 1 to typically 9, the masked-threshold level in the constituent 1/3-oct bands is found to decrease by 8 log(n). This integration rule is obtained when each of the 1/3-oct bands covered by the signal equally contributes to detection, i.e., that, for each of these 1/3-oct bands, the difference between signal level and the individual masked-threshold level is the same. It was found that this integration rule also applies to noncontiguous signal spectra and that it remains intact over a broad range of masker levels. Commonly, the masked threshold of compound signals (for instance, n frequency components with a spacing of typically 1/3 oct), relative to the masked threshold of single-component signals, has been described by a 5 log(n) integration rule. However, this rule was obtained for signal durations of typically 100 ms or more. For the present brief signals (typically 10 ms or less), the across-frequency integration is found to be more effective.