Gap detection measures only on-off sensitivity, not coding of fluctuation rates.

Evidence

In summary, then, gap detection experiments provide an intuitive way to measure temporal resolution. They are limited in their scope of measuring temporal processing, however, because only a single threshold value is obtained. Thus, they only reflect the ability to detect whether a stimulus is “on” or “off” and are not sensitive to the ability of the ear to code for different stimulus fluctuation rates. Furthermore, the thresholds themselves depend on the frequency span of the stimulus, and a fully audible stimulus is needed in order to obtain the best gap detection thresholds. — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 980

Categorization

• DEFINE: Clarifies the scope and limits of gap detection as a measure of temporal resolution.