Loudness enhancement: monaural, binaural, and dichotic

Abstract

When one tone burst (T c ) precedes another (S 1) by 100 msec, variations in the intensity of T c systematically influence the loudness of S 1. When T c is more intense than S 1, S 1 is increased; and when T c is less intense, S 1loudness is decreased. This occurs in monaural, binaural, and dichotic paradigms of signal presentation. When T c and S 1 are presented to the same ear (monaural or binaural) there is more enhancement with less intersubject variability than when they are presented to different ears (dichotic paradigm). Monaural enhancements as large as 30 dB can readily be demonstrated but decrements rarely exceed 5 dB. Possible physiological mechanisms are discussed for this loudness enhancement, which apparently shares certain characteristics with time‐order error, assimilation, and temporal partial masking experiments. Subject Classification: 65.50, 65.62.