Frequency difference limens at high frequencies: evidence for a transition from a temporal to a place code

J Acoust Soc Am. 2012 Sep;132(3):1542-7. doi: 10.1121/1.4739444.

Abstract

It is commonly believed that difference limens for frequency (DLFs) for pure tones depend on a temporal mechanism (phase locking) for frequencies up to 4-5 kHz and a place mechanism at higher frequencies. The DLFs predicted from a place mechanism, expressed as a proportion of center frequency (Δf/f), should be approximately invariant with frequency at medium to high frequencies. If there is a transition from a temporal to a place mechanism, Δf/f should increase with increasing center frequency until the transition occurs, and then reach a plateau. Published data do not show such an effect. In this study, DLFs were measured for center frequencies from 2 to 14 kHz, using earphones designed to produce a flat response at the eardrum. The level of every tone was varied over a range of ±4 dB, to reduce loudness cues. The value of Δf/f increased progressively from 2 to 8 kHz, but did not change significantly for frequencies from 8 to 14 kHz. The results are consistent with the idea that there is a transition from a temporal to a place mechanism at about 8 kHz, rather than at 4-5 kHz, as is commonly assumed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acoustic Stimulation
  • Adult
  • Audiometry, Pure-Tone
  • Auditory Pathways / physiology*
  • Auditory Threshold
  • Cues*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Loudness Perception
  • Male
  • Pitch Discrimination
  • Pitch Perception*
  • Time Factors
  • Young Adult