Influences of the Pulsation Threshold Method on Psychoacoustical Tuning Curves

The pulsation threshold method, introduced by Houtgast [1], allows the recording of psychoacoustical tuning curves without the falsifying influences of beats and combination tones. The shape of the psychoacoustical tuning curves depends on the presentation conditions of the signals, particularly on pulse durations longer than 175 ms or shorter than 80 ms, on gaps longer than about 12 ms, and on levels of the test tone higher than 50 dB SL. Possible reasons are cited.