One of the more compelling and important aspects of auditory science has been the ability to relate perception to physiology and physics. This challenging endeavor has attracted fine minds from various disciplines and has provided theoretical frameworks for rigorously studying and describing at various levels many basic aspects of hearing. An example is the application of “signal detection theory” and its collection of tools for empirical and theoretical investigation of certain aspects of audition. But what of the future? Do we have comparable tools to construct quantitative theories that enable prediction of complex aspects of audition? Do we need new tools? Definitive answers may or may not be provided during this session.

       Viemeister, N.F. (2009). Theories of hearing. Presented at the 157th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America.

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