Relevance of psychoacoustical theory.
William M. Hartmann · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · 2009
Historically, the principles of psychoacoustics have been described in terms of mathematical theories. Are such mathematical theories now obsolete? Have they been replaced by computer algorithms? Do contemporary answers now come from simulations in computational toolboxes? The case for psychoacoustical theory can be made anew: Mathematical psychoacoustical theory has value because of the transparency of its assumptions and the universality of its language. It has an unparalleled ability to inspire extensions and revisions in order to evolve. It illuminates new conceptual directions through analogies with other sciences subserved by similar mathematical structures. Theory consolidates large amounts of otherwise unrelated data and serves as a guide to future experiments. Mathematical theory is the practical realization of images about the way the auditory world works, images that promote understanding because of their intuitive appeal. Theory is at its best when the ordinary operations of mathematics transform an initial model into logically inescapable new insights unlikely to have arisen by other avenues. [Work supported by the NIDCD, Grant DC-00181.]