Binaural release from temporal induction

Abstract

This study examined the effects of interaural phase difference (IPhD) relations in temporal induction (TI) - that is, the perceived continuity of a fainter sound (inducee) through an interrupting higher amplitude sound (inducer). The extent of TI was measured both directly as the upper amplitude level for continuity and indirectly as the loudness reduction of the inducer. It was found that TI was inhibited when the IPhD of the inducer and the IPhD of the inducee differed. It was also found that the extent of induction was positively related to the masking potential of the inducer as measured by the binaural masking level difference procedure. These results suggest that TI involves processes that are affected by interaural phase differences and that the masking potential rule, shown by previous studies to apply in the frequency domain, applies also in the IPhD domain. The present findings are consistent with the hypothesis that TI results from allocation of a portion of the neural excitation produced by the inducer over to the inducee if the inducer has the appropriate masking potential. As a consequence, obliterated signals can be selectively restored on the basis of both frequency-specific monaural cues and azimuth-related binaural cues, abilities that can enhance detection of signals under the noisy conditions of everyday life.