Aerospace Medicine Technical Reports
FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-63/17
Title and Subtitle: Application of a relative procedure to a problem in binaural beat perception
Report Date: August 1963
Authors: Tobias JV
Abstract: The existence of binaural beats has long been considered an indication of binaural interaction for timing and for periodicity of information. In the past, bilaterally matched sound pressure or sensation levels have been used in the investigation of these beats and the measuring technique was one which may be termed absolute. However, the present study, in investigating with a relative technique the limits of dichotic intensity which permit binaural beats, shows that listeners respond to the presence of beats whenever the tones to both ears are above threshold.
It is suggested that this new result fits more neatly into current theoretical formulations. The frequencies investigated ranged from 100 to 2000 cps. As other authors have previously reported, the best performance occurred in the 400-600 cps range. The present findings strengthen the case for an auditory nervous system with timing channels independent of other transmission lines and, thereby, also have implications for pitch theory.
Key Words: binaural, dichotic intensity, timing channels, auditory nervous system
No. of Pages: 10
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-63/17
Title and Subtitle: Application of a relative procedure to a problem in binaural beat perception
Report Date: August 1963
Authors: Tobias JV
Abstract: The existence of binaural beats has long been considered an indication of binaural interaction for timing and for periodicity of information. In the past, bilaterally matched sound pressure or sensation levels have been used in the investigation of these beats and the measuring technique was one which may be termed absolute. However, the present study, in investigating with a relative technique the limits of dichotic intensity which permit binaural beats, shows that listeners respond to the presence of beats whenever the tones to both ears are above threshold.
It is suggested that this new result fits more neatly into current theoretical formulations. The frequencies investigated ranged from 100 to 2000 cps. As other authors have previously reported, the best performance occurred in the 400-600 cps range. The present findings strengthen the case for an auditory nervous system with timing channels independent of other transmission lines and, thereby, also have implications for pitch theory.
Key Words: binaural, dichotic intensity, timing channels, auditory nervous system
No. of Pages: 10
Last updated: Friday, June 1, 2012