Noise’s inherent statistical fluctuations degrade frequency-change detectability relative to tones.

Evidence

One effect has to be considered in using noises: the quantitative value of the just-noticeable modulation of a low-pass noise’s cut-off frequency is much larger in comparison to the frequency modulation of a sinusoidal tone, because of the statistical self-modulation of the noise. — Professor Dr.-Ing. Hugo Fastl, Professor Dr.-Ing. Eberhard, Psychoacoustics- Facts and Models, 1144

Categorization

• DEFINE: Introduces the concept of statistical self-modulation of noise as a masking factor for detecting changes.
• XREF: connects to: Noise is any factor degrading signal detection or discrimination — Almo Farina, Soundscape Ecology: Principles,…, 1238