Testing a computational model for detection of “real-world” sounds

Hoglund (et al., 2010) reported the ability of listeners to detect a recorded signal masked by nine different ambient sounds. Signals were selected from 410 recordings of two different helicopters; maskers were selected from nine outdoor field recordings from three different locations. Signal and masker levels were randomized from trial to trial in a 2I,2AFC adaptive procedure to produce psychometric functions. Signal-to-masker ratios (SNR) ranged from -22 to -4 dBA for 70% correct detections. The Hoglund et al. results were used to tune a network of non-linear oscillators to optimize its performance. To evaluate the model, recordings of three fixed-wing aircraft were obtained for use as signals in the same nine environmental backgrounds. Signal and masker recordings were pre-processed to ensure that overall RMS voltage measures reflected the sound pressure level measured in a flat-plate coupler at the headphone used by the listeners. Model predictions for complete psychometric functions were obtained bef...