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Is Fletcher-Munson an acoustic or a cognitive phenomenon?

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Dec 16, 2024
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Does anyone know if there were any experiments conducted to determine if Fletcher-Munson is a thing because of the way our ears perceive sound or the way our brains interprets it?
If it is an acoustic phenomenon, the eardrum must be moving less in the lower frequency range than in mid and high frequencies.
However, if it is a cognitive phenomenon, the eardrum must travel no less in the lower frequency range than in mid and high range, and the perceived difference in volume would be caused by the brain processing.
Were there any experiments to figure it out?
 
It's a physiological phenomenon, it does not depend on cognitive functions.
 
I would agree with @Unplugged. It is "physiological". Don't forget that the ossicles of the middle ear have muscles attached to them (stapedius and tensor tympani) which are configured in an "X" - its function is to increase/decrease the stiffness of the ossicles that transmit sound from eardrum to cochlea. It is controlled by reflex, and can attenuate the sound by as much as 40dB to protect the Organ of Corti from loud sounds.
 
I had the mechanics of my ears checked out a few years ago, they told me they worked just as the should so apart from a little scaring on my right eardrum due to an infection 30 years before my less than perfect hearing is due to something further in side.

I believe the tests involved agitating the ear drum with air controlled by a computer operated machine and analyzing the sounds that 'echo back' in essence 'listening' to the tiny bits and bobs ratting about in side! Ho hum.
 
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