Effects of flanking component spectral position and modulation pattern on thresholds for signals presented in the peaks of a modulated tonal masker.

Detection of signals added solely to the peaks of an on-frequency modulated masker has never been found to improve after adding flanking components ~FCs! at remote frequencies. However, according to theories underlying comodulation masking release ~CMR!, adding comodulated FCs could provide cues that improve signal detection for signal-peak placement. A reason masking release was not found with peak placement might be because of processes underlying modulation detection interference ~MDI!. This possibility was further investigated by using FCs that could diminish MDI but still provide signal detection cues associated with theories of CMR. It seemed that a peripheral within-channel and a central across-channel mechanism underlying MDI could hinder signal detection for signal peak placement. © 2001 Acoustical Society of America. @DOI: 10.1121/1.1328790#