Psychoacoustics methods

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Questions and Answers

Which method involves the patient adjusting the intensity of a tone themselves to determine their threshold?

Hughson-Westlake method
Method of Constant Stimuli
Method of Adjustment (correct)
Method of Limits

In the Method of Limits, instructing a patient to guess more often typically decreases false positives and lowers the measured threshold.

False (B)

What type of patient behavior is indicated by uncharacteristically short or long response latencies?

false positive

The lowest intensity level at which a patient responds 50% of the time is defined as the ______.

threshold Signup and view all the answers

Match each psychoacoustic method with its description:

Method of Limits = Intensity adjusted incrementally until a response is detected. Method of Adjustment = Patient modifies the stimulus intensity directly. Method of Constant Stimuli = Stimuli are presented at fixed levels to determine response rates. Signup and view all the answers

In signal detection theory, what does d-prime (d') represent?

Distance between means of distributions in z-scores (C) Signup and view all the answers

Method of limits is NOT an adaptive procedure.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the loudness (in sones) of a tone at 1000 Hz and 40 dB SPL?

1 sone Signup and view all the answers

In psychoacoustics, the minimum bandwidth of masking noise required to mask a probe tone is known as the ______.

critical band Signup and view all the answers

Match the following terms with their descriptions:

Sensitivity = How often a test correctly identifies a problem (true positive rate) Specificity = How often a test correctly identifies the absence of a problem (true negative rate) D-prime = Measure of the ability to discriminate signal from noise Beta (β) = Criterion used by an observer to make a decision i.e. response bias Signup and view all the answers

What does a 'liberal bias' (β < 1) indicate in the context of signal detection theory?

The subject is more willing to report the presence of a signal. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Magnitude production involves the subject assigning a number to a stimulus to indicate its perceived intensity.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate critical bandwidth at higher frequencies, expressed in octaves?

1/3 octave Signup and view all the answers

In the context of temporal coding, the shortest pause in a signal that can be detected is known as the ______ threshold.

gap detection Signup and view all the answers

Why is the two-interval, two-alternative forced choice method (2I-2AFC) preferred over a simple yes/no task in psychoacoustic experiments?

It controls for guessing by forcing a choice between two intervals. (B) Signup and view all the answers

The phon scale directly measures loudness ratios, with 1 sone being the reference point.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

According to temporal integration, how does shortening the duration of a stimulus (below 200/250 msec) affect the threshold?

worsens Signup and view all the answers

In cross-modality matching, a subject might adjust a ______ to represent the loudness of a sound.

line length Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the upward spread of masking?

Higher frequencies affect the audibility of lower frequencies. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Widened critical bands in individuals with hearing loss lead to sharper frequency response and better pitch perception.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which factor does NOT influence a patient's response in the method of limits?

Room temperature (C) Signup and view all the answers

Descending runs in the method of limits tend to have higher thresholds compared to ascending runs.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

In Bekesy audiometry, what action does the patient take to indicate they can or cannot hear a tone?

hold a button Signup and view all the answers

In the method of constant stimuli, the responses are tallied and plotted to find the intensity level at which the stimulus is detected ______ percent of the time.

50 Signup and view all the answers

Match the following psychoacoustic methods with their descriptions:

Method of Limits = Intensity is adjusted until the patient responds. Method of Adjustment = Patient adjusts intensity themselves. Method of Constant Stimuli = A constant number of stimuli per intensity will be presented and the response will be recorded. Signup and view all the answers

In a two-interval, two-alternative forced choice (2AFC) paradigm, what percentage correct typically indicates the threshold, representing performance between certainty and chance?

75% (A) Signup and view all the answers

The method of constant stimuli is an example of an adaptive procedure.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of anchoring the response in magnitude estimation?

provides a reference stimulus Signup and view all the answers

Which scaling procedure involves a subject adjusting a stimulus until it reaches a specified magnitude?

Magnitude production (C) Signup and view all the answers

In signal detection theory, the parameter d-prime (d') represents the distance between the means of the __________ distributions in z-scores.

signal and noise Signup and view all the answers

What does a d-prime (d') value of 0 indicate in signal detection theory?

System's performance is at chance level (A) Signup and view all the answers

A beta (β) value less than 1 in signal detection theory indicates a conservative bias.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve illustrate in the context of signal detection theory?

The trade-off between hit rate and false alarm rate (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the key concept for masking?

Critical band (A) Signup and view all the answers

__________ masking occurs when the masker follows the probe.

backward Signup and view all the answers

Match the following parameters with their descriptions:

ITD = Low-frequency sound localization IID = High-frequency sound localization Binaural summation = 3 dB boost, squelch, and redundancy Signup and view all the answers

Why do humans hear best in the mid frequencies?

Because of the head transfer function, OE/EAM resonance and shaping, and ME mass/stiffness (D) Signup and view all the answers

According to the phon scale, how would a loudness of 20 phons be perceived?

Same loudness as 1000 Hz at 20 dB SPL (B) Signup and view all the answers

How are the temporal integration and intensity sensitivity affected in individuals with hearing loss?

Reduced temporal integration and greater intensity sensitivity (C) Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Method of Limits

Intensity is changed until the listener responds; threshold is the intensity heard 50% of the time.

Threshold (Psychoacoustics)

The lowest intensity a person responds to half the time.

Method of Adjustment

Listener adjusts intensity smoothly; threshold is the average of reversals (e.g., Bekesy audiometry).