Suppression effects in backward and forward masking

Abstract

The differences in the suppression effect observed in forward and backward masking [using human subjects] are consistent with an interpretation that suppression in forward masking results from a reduction of the effective level of the masker in the auditory periphery, and that the suppression in backward masking is influenced by these peripheral processes, but is dominated by additional, central processes. This conclusion is supported by experiments that show differences in the effect of ipsilateral vs. contralateral presentation of the suppressor, and differences in the amount of the suppression observed as a function of the level, duration and frequency of the suppressor.