Learning effects in speech-in-noise tasks: Effect of masker modulation and masking release.

Previous research has shown that learning effects are present for speech intelligibility in temporally modulated (TM) noise, but not in stationary noise. The present study aimed to gain more insight into the factors that might affect the time course (the number of trials required to reach stable performance) and size [the improvement in the speech reception threshold (SRT)] of the learning effect. Two hypotheses were addressed: (1) learning effects are present in both TM and spectrally modulated (SM) noise and (2) the time course and size of the learning effect depend on the amount of masking release caused by either TM or SM noise.

Informational masking with speech-on-speech intelligibility: Pupil response and time-course of learning.

Previous research has shown a learning effect on speech perception in nonstationary maskers. The present study addressed the time-course of this learning effect and the role of informational masking. To that end, speech reception thresholds (SRTs) were measured for speech in either a stationary noise masker, an interrupted noise masker, or a single-talker masker.