Psychoacoustics
Introduction
Psychoacoustics is the scientific study of sound perception and audiology. More specifically, it is the branch of science studying the psychological and physiological responses associated with sound (including noise, speech, and music). Psychoacoustics is an interdisciplinary field of many areas, including psychology, acoustics, electronic engineering, physics, biology, physiology, and computer science.[1]
History of Psychoacoustics
The history of psychoacoustics is deeply intertwined with the development of the fields of psychology, acoustics, and physiology. The term "psychoacoustics" itself was coined by the American acoustical engineer Harvey Fletcher, who is often referred to as the "father of psychoacoustics."[2] His work at Bell Laboratories during the early 20th century laid the groundwork for much of the field as we know it today.
Fundamental Concepts
Psychoacoustics is centered around the understanding of how humans perceive sound. This includes the perception of pitch, loudness, timbre, and duration. The following are some of the fundamental concepts in psychoacoustics:
Pitch
Pitch is the perceived frequency of a sound. It is one of the three major auditory attributes of sounds along with loudness and timbre.[3] The pitch of a sound is determined by the frequency of the sound wave, with higher frequencies resulting in higher perceived pitch.
Loudness
Loudness is the subjective perception of the intensity of a sound. It is not solely determined by the physical intensity of the sound wave, but also depends on other factors such as the frequency and duration of the sound.[4]
Timbre
Timbre, also known as tone color or tone quality, is the perceived sound quality of a musical note, sound, or tone that distinguishes different types of sound production, such as voices and musical instruments.[5]
Duration
Duration is the length of time that a sound or silence lasts. In music, duration is an important aspect of rhythm.[6]
Psychoacoustic Models
Psychoacoustic models are mathematical representations of the human auditory system. They are used in many areas of audio research, including music perception, speech recognition, and audio coding.[7]
Applications of Psychoacoustics
Psychoacoustics has many practical applications in various fields. Some of the most notable applications are in music, audio engineering, and medicine.
Music
In music, psychoacoustics is used to understand how we perceive musical elements such as pitch, loudness, and timbre. This understanding can be used to create more effective musical compositions and performances.[8]
Audio Engineering
In audio engineering, psychoacoustics is used to design and optimize audio systems. This includes the design of speakers, microphones, and audio codecs.[9]
Medicine
In medicine, psychoacoustics is used in the diagnosis and treatment of various auditory disorders. This includes the design of hearing aids and cochlear implants.[10]