Auditory and non-auditory factors involved in loudness modulation: A model for tinnitus and hyperacusis

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Loudness, the subjective perception of sound level (dB), is one of the major perceptual attributes of sounds. While the general relationship between loudness and sound level is monotonic, the details of the loudness function can vary depending on several auditory and non-auditory factors. For instance, acoustic conditions such as reduction of sensory inputs and sound enrichment can increase and decrease auditory sensitivity, respectively. The auditory system has the capacity to modulate the gain depending on ambient auditory factors. This central gain model, however, is a recent proposition that has not received much empirical support. While it has been suggested that brainstem mechanisms may be involved in central gain modulation, it is unknown whether higher levels of the auditory system may also participate.