Intensity, Frequency, and Duration Effects in the Measurement of Monaural Perstimulatory Loudness Adaptation

An experiment is described in which perstimulatory loudness adaptation is measured by delayed balance and by single simultaneous balance methods. The adapting signals consisted of all combinations of intensity (sound-pressure level 30, 50, 80, and 100 dB), frequency (250, 1000, and 4000 Hz), and duration (1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 30 sec). The results reveal little adaptation with simultaneous balances and slightly negative adaptation with delayed balances. Duration of the adapting signal had no significant effect on the data. However, the differences between methods of measurement, intensities, and frequencies of the adapting signal were statistically significant. All interactions, except those involving the duration factor, were statistically significant.