ABSTRACT
Under some circumstances the auditory system adopts a wideband analysis strategy, even for a task as simple as the detection of a tone in noise. This appears to be the case in modulated noise, where the presence of noise components outside the critical band (CB) centered on the signal provides benefit for detection. This phenomenon is called “comodulation masking release” or “CMR.” The present discussion reviews the stimulus variables that affect CMR, the relation between CMR and other psycho-acoustical phenomena, and possible explanations of CMR. New data on two variables, the across-frequency level difference of the masker, and the frequency separation between on-signal masking band and comodulated flanking band, are also reported. Data are discussed in terms of the ability of the auditory system to utilize across-frequency difference cues as the frequency difference between comodulated bands increases, and as the level difference between the comodulated bands increases.
