The diversity of auditory frequency-weighting profiles

Here, we show that listeners apply stable but diverse frequency-weighting profiles when combining auditory information over the frequency range typically covered by everyday sounds. Frequency-weighting profiles were probed behaviourally, in a large online and in-lab cohort, using more than 212,000 perceptual judgments. Listeners assessed changes between consecutive random chords. These changes contained conflicting cues on the acoustic dimension of either frequency, level, or inter-aural level difference. Reverse correlation determined the frequency-weighting profiles best explaining perceptual decisions. Profiles with sharp differences across frequency bands were observed, displaying a remarkable variability across individuals. Individual profiles were reliable and stable over time. Profiles were unrelated to audibility thresholds as all chord components were presented at the same sensation level and as profiles differed across tasks within individuals. We suggest that frequency weighting in supra-threshold audition could act as a perceptual matched filter, tailored to each individual’s acoustic environment.