41Chapter 3
by Peter Xinya Zhang
3.1 Psychoacoustics and Subjective Quantities...................................................... 43
3.2 Ear Anatomy and Function................................................................. 43
3.2.1 Pinna................................................................................ 43
3.2.2 Temporal Bones....................................................................... 44
3.2.3 Ear Canal............................................................................. 45
3.2.4 Middle Ear............................................................................ 45
3.2.4.1 Acoustic Reflex.................................................................... 45
3.2.5 Inner Ear............................................................................. 45
3.3 Frequency Selectivity...................................................................... 47
3.3.1 Frequency Tuning...................................................................... 47
3.3.2 Masking and Its Application in Audio Encoding.............................................. 48
3.3.3 Auditory Filters and Critical Bands......................................................... 49
3.4 Nonlinearity of the Ear..................................................................... 49
3.5 Perception of Phase........................................................................ 50
3.6 Auditory Area and Thresholds............................................................... 50
3.7 Hearing Over Time........................................................................ 51
3.8 Loudness................................................................................ 51
3.8.1 Equal Loudness Contours and Loudness Level................................................ 51
3.8.2 Level Measurements with A-, B-, and C-Weightings........................................... 52
3.8.3 Loudness in Sones...................................................................... 52
3.8.4 Loudness versus Bandwidth.............................................................. 53
3.8.5 Loudness of Impulses................................................................... 53
3.8.6 Perception of Dynamic Changes........................................................... 54
3.9 Pitch.................................................................................... 54
3.9.1 The Unit of Pitch....................................................................... 55
3.9.2 Perception of Pure and Complex Tones..................................................... 55
3.9.3 Phase-Locking and the Range of Pitch Sensation.............................................. 56
3.9.4 Frequency Difference Limen.............................................................. 56
3.9.5 Dependence of Pitch on Level............................................................. 56
3.9.6 Perfect Pitch.......................................................................... 56
3.9.7 Other Pitch Effects..................................................................... 57
3.10 Timbre................................................................................. 57
3.11 Binaural and Spatial Hearing............................................................... 57
3.11.1 Localization Cues for Left and Right...................................................... 57
3.11.2 Localization on Sagittal Planes........................................................... 58
3.11.3 Externalization........................................................................ 59
3.11.4 Precedence (Hass) Effect................................................................ 60
3.11.5 Franssen Effect....................................................................... 60
3.11.6 Cocktail Party Effect and Improvement of Signal Detection.................................... 60
3.11.7 Distance Perception.................................................................... 60
Further Reading.............................................................................. 61
References.................................................................................. 61