Temporal gap detection in noise as a function of frequency, bandwidth, and level

Temporal gap resolution is measured with Békésy tracking procedure and filtered noise stimuli in the frequency range below 6000 Hz. Stimulus parameters include high-pass and low-pass cutoff frequency, band center frequency, bandwidth in a 2-oct range, and signal level in the low-to-moderate intensity range. The pattern of results indicates that gap resolution improves with an increase in stimulus frequency in a manner that can be described by a linear function with a slope of about 2 ms/oct. This relationship applies to signal levels greater than 25--30 dB SL. A linear trend also describes gap threshold as a function of the empirical critical bandwidth within the same frequency range. Implications of the results for simple functional models of temporal processing are examined.