Frequency discrimination is finest around 0.3% near 500 Hz.

Evidence

Since the lower slope is independent of critical-band rate, the model leads to direct proportionality between just-noticeable frequency variation, 2.1/, and the width of the critical band. The factor between the two should be 27, the constant lower slope in dB/ .1/G . This value corresponds quite well to the data outlined in Fig. 6.10. There, a factor of 25 is marked between the two values. Our model therefore assumes that the high sensitivity of our hearing system for variations in frequency is not established by the use of specialized systems that react to frequency changes. Rather, the steep slopes of the frequency selectivity of our hearing system are the reason for the high sensitivity to frequency changes. This sensitivity is based on our hearing system’s ability to indicate changes in excitation level that are of the size of only 1 dB. It seems that our hearing system is using this sensitivity for level changes together with its frequency selectivity to reach the high sensitivity for frequency variations. — Professor Dr.-Ing. Hugo Fastl, Professor Dr.-Ing. Eberhard, Psychoacoustics- Facts and Models, 1143 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Frequency discrimination stems from steep filter slopes plus 1 dB level sensitivity — Professor Dr.-Ing. Hugo Fastl, Professor Dr.-Ing. Eberhard, Psychoacoustics- Facts and Models, 1143

Related

• Frequency discrimination stems from steep filter slopes plus 1 dB level sensitivity (similarity 0.94)
• Meaningful frequency-response specs require high resolution and narrow tolerance. (similarity 0.91)
• Frequency discrimination thresholds rise dramatically from 500 Hz to 5000 Hz (similarity 0.87)
• Narrow critical bandwidths at low frequencies reduce hearing sensitivity via noise fluctuations (similarity 0.86)
• The ear’s frequency selectivity worsens as frequency rises above 500 Hz. (similarity 0.86)
• Phase-change sensitivity in hearing is bounded by critical bandwidth, scaling with centre frequency. (similarity 0.86)
• Frequency-modulation detection relies on the steep lower excitation slope at 27 dB per Bark (similarity 0.86)
• Raising noise level paradoxically worsens cut-off frequency discrimination as upper slopes flatten. (similarity 0.85)
• Masked threshold rise toward high frequencies is about 100 dB per octave. (similarity 0.85)
• Hearing becomes less sensitive to frequency variations as level increases (similarity 0.84)
• Uncertainty principles force mechanical frequency sorting in the ear to be coarse. (similarity 0.84)
• Critical bandrate scale stabilizes frequency discrimination measures across durations (similarity 0.84)
• Hearing’s fine frequency resolution may be modeled at coarser steps in practice (similarity 0.84)
• The ear’s frequency response is level-dependent, favoring mid frequencies at low volume (similarity 0.84)
• Speech discrimination requires intact frequency resolution (similarity 0.83)

Broader Connections

• Frequency discrimination stems from steep filter slopes plus 1 dB level sensitivity #expands (0.75) — Professor Dr.-Ing. Hugo Fastl, Professor Dr.-Ing. Eberhard, Psychoacoustics- Facts and Models, 1143