A new method of calculating auditory excitation patterns and loudness for steady sounds

A new method for calculating auditory excitation patterns and loudness for steady sounds is described. The method is based on a nonlinear filterbank in which each filter is the sum of a broad passive filter and a sharp active filter. All filters have a rounded-exponential shape. For each center frequency (CF), the gain of the active filter is controlled by the output of the passive filter. The parameters of the model were derived from large sets of previously published notched-noise masking data obtained from human subjects. Excitation patterns derived using the new filterbank include the effects of basilar membrane compression. Loudness can be calculated as the area under the excitation pattern when plotted in intensity-like units on an ERBN-number (Cam) scale; no transformation from excitation to specific loudness is required. The method predicts the standard equal-loudness contours and loudness as a function of bandwidth with good accuracy. With some additional assumptions, the method also gives reasonably accurate predictions of partial loudness.

► A new nonlinear auditory filterbank was developed.
► The filter parameters were derived from large sets of notched-noise masking data.
► Excitation patterns derived with the filterbank include the effects of cochlear compression.
► Loudness can be calculated as the area under the excitation pattern.
► No transformation from excitation to specific loudness is required.