Temporal gap detection in noise as a function of frequency, bandwidth, and level

Abstract

Temporal gap resolution is measured with Békésy tracking procedure and filtered noise stimuli in the frequency range below 6000 Hz. Stimulus parameters include high‐pass and low‐pass cutoff frequency, band center frequency, bandwidth in a 2‐oct range, and signal level in the low‐to‐moderate intensity range. The pattern of results indicates that gap resolution improves with an increase in stimulus frequency in a manner that can be described by a linear function with a slope of about 2 ms/oct. This relationship applies to signal levels greater than 25–30 dB SL. A linear trend also describes gap threshold as a function of the empirical critical bandwidth within the same frequency range. Implications of the results for simple functional models of temporal processing are examined.