Year: 1953
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: A method was developed for getting a continuous and running record of pitch matches between the two ears over a frequency extent of one octave. The automatic recording audiometer, usually referred to as a “Bekesy” audiometer, measures hearing loss (amount of attenuation) as a continuous function of frequency. By using the automatic frequency and paper drive features of the Iowa version of the “Bekesy” audiometer but using the subject's adjustment of a second oscillator, instead of an attenuator, to drive the recording pen, a continuous tracing of pitch matches is available. A one-second tone from the motor driven (standard) oscillator (controlling the paper drive) is presented to one ear and a two-second tone from the subject's (variable) oscillator (controlling the pen writing mechanism) is presented alternately to the other ear. Between successive presentations of the standard tone its frequency is shifted continuously upward in increments of 0.77 percent. The listener, who controls the frequency of the variable tone, is instructed to keep the two alternating tones matched in pitch. In this manner 90 distinct pitch matches are made in each octave and a permanent record of the frequencies of the two oscillators is available. Ten music students made these pitch matches over the six-octave interval from 150–9600 cps. In the ear in which the standard tone was heard various types and amounts of hearing loss were simulated by masking noises. Results indicate a correlation between the slope of the hearing loss and the amount and direction of the pitch shift. The pitch tends to shift away from a region of hearing loss to a region of no, or less hearing loss. Downward shifts in pitch were observed but were never as marked as the upward shifts.
DOI: 10.1121/1.1917727
Institutions: Naval Electronics Laboratory Center, University of Iowa
Language: English
Subfield: Sensory Systems
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2015553860