[Tachistophony, a measuring method for time threshold in hearing. A contribution to hearing theory].

Tachistophony is presented as a method of measuring time-thresholds for understanding spoken signals and for recognising sound levels. The minimum total-time of periodically interrupted sound-events per second is assessed. The pause-total can reach a value between 4 and 9 times (in extreme cases up to 14 times) the sound flow period. The total of sound-pulses is measured only at 250 to 100 ms, with the recognition of values still operative. Due to the low information-content of numerical words their time-threshold is the lowest. The time-threshold lies considerably higher for one-syllable words and sentences with a higher information-content. The superiority of the left ear with dichotic stimulation is confirmed with monaural tachistophonic stimulation. These values are related to phase-frequencies of between 13 and 40 Hz. When the phase-frequency is lowered, comprehension below 8 Hz falls considerably. This is less apparent with phase-frequencies between 40 and 110 Hz.