Amplitude discrimination in masking release paradigms.

In the first phase of the study, detection thresholds were obtained in conditions that were associated with comodulation masking release (CMR), conditions that were associated with the masking-level difference (MLD), or conditions that were not associated with masking release (baseline conditions). In the second phase of the study, amplitude discrimination was determined for standard tones presented at sensation levels (SLs) 0-30 dB above the masked detection thresholds. Results indicated that, at matched SLs, amplitude discrimination was poorer under conditions of masking release than for baseline conditions, both for the MLD and for CMR. Implications of these results for models of masking release are discussed.