Loudness estimates explain cortical responses better than sound intensity alone

Evidence

In all regions, linear loudness models yielded at least slightly better goodness-of-fits as compared to linear sound intensity models, although still being outmatched by quadratic fits with sound intensity in the majority of cortical ROIs. — Dijk, Pim van, Physiology, Psychoacoustics and…, 2625

The example plots of the different model fits in the left and right posterior medial HG (Fig. 2b ) reveal that the significant quadratic component is attributable to a steeper increase of BOLD responses at the highest sound levels (in this regard, the examples are representative for all ROIs). Across ROIs, only 4 (out of the total 24) quadratic loudness models reached significance, indicating that the relationship between the responses and categorical loudness is sufficiently described by a linear model. — Dijk, Pim van, Physiology, Psychoacoustics and…, 2632

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the loudness-vs-intensity distinction familiar from psychoacoustic treatments (e.g. Fletcher-Munson curves) and to theories that neural responses track perceived magnitude.
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Dijk, Pim van, Physiology, Psychoacoustics and…, 2625; Dijk, Pim van, Physiology, Psychoacoustics and…, 2632