A model of psychophysical suppression

A model will be presented in which suppression and excitation are treated as two separate processes. A template is assumed for each based on neurophysiological data. Cochlear output patterns can be computed for an arbitrary input stimulus. In the first step of the model, the excitation templates for each input are added in power. Then the resulting excitation pattern is convoluted with the suppression template to produce a pseudocochlear output distribution across the basilar membrane. Psychophysical decision rules operating on this output are able to predict many aspects of psychophysical two‐tone suppression data. As a single tone is increased in level, the output of the model shows that suppression can act as an amplitude compression process, representing the full range of input in a smaller range of outputs. Correspondences between the model and other psychophysical data will be discussed.