Masker interaction in pure-tone forward masking

Forward masking of a 1-kHz, 20-ms probe was examined using two temporally distinct 1-kHz, 20-ms maskers, separated by 6.5 ms. The interval between the second masker and the probe was the same as the interval between the first and second masker. Masking functions were obtained for each masker separately, and for varying levels of one masker with a fixed level of the other. The presence of the first masker at a fixed level raised the probe threshold over that obtained with the second masker alone: this elevation was approximately constant, independent of the level of the second masker. The results indicate that masking effects of the two maskers are not independent, i.e., the maskers interact. Several models of masker interaction are discussed.