The Psychometric Function for Focusing Attention on Pitch

What is the effect of focusing auditory attention on an upcoming signal tone? Weak tones, 40 ms in duration, were presented 50 dB continuous white noise and either uncued or cued 82 beforehand by a 12 SL cue tone same frequency duration as signal. Signal was constant for block trials randomly one 11 frequencies from 632 to 3140 Hz. Slopes psychometric functions detection single-interval (Yes/No) obtained three listeners varying level over 1–9 range. Plots log(d’) against fit linear functions. similar whether varied, found D. Green. tones increased 14% 20% more than predicted energy (i.e., 0.10), also previously, whereas slopes followed corrected 8 sensory threshold. That pre-cues help focus rapidly permit act near-ideal detectors energy, which they do not otherwise, supports key hypothesis Grossberg’s ART model that guided conscious awareness can optimize perception.