Sound Localization: Binaural Cues and Spatial Hearing
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Questions and Answers

What is hearing?

A spatial and temporal sense that processes changes in sound to help us understand our environment.

What is sound localization?

The ability to determine the direction and position of sounds in the environment.

What are binaural cues?

Cues for sound localization that involve both ears.

What is interaural time difference (ITD)?

<p>The tiny difference in arrival time of a sound at the left and right ears, working best for low-frequency sounds (1000 Hz).</p> Signup and view all the answers

What part of the brain is responsible for detecting ILDs?

<p>The Lateral Superior Olive (LSO).</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the Head Shadow Effect?

<p>The phenomenon where the head acts as a sound barrier, reducing the amplitude of sounds reaching the far ear.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is azimuth?

<p>The angle of a sound source relative to the head.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are cones of confusion?

<p>Situations where multiple sound locations produce identical ITDs and ILDs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Directional Transfer Function (DTF) describe?

<p>Describes how the pinna, ear canal, and head filter frequencies differently depending on sound source location.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do head movements help in sound localization?

<p>Movements that resolve ambiguity in sound localization by shifting the ITD and ILD.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does sound intensity play in sound localization?

<p>The loudness of a sound, which varies between the two ears for localization.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which sounds are best localized using ITD?

<p>Low-Frequency Sounds (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is 'Sound Source Location'?

<p>The specific position from which a sound originates.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What causes Ambiguity in Sound Localization?

<p>The uncertainty in determining the exact location of a sound due to similar ITDs and ILDs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the pinna help determine Elevation of a sound?

<p>The up/down location of a sound source as distinguished by the pinna.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Auditory Scene Analysis?

<p>The process of organizing sound into perceptually meaningful elements.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Define Complex Sounds.

<p>Sounds that consist of multiple frequencies and can be analyzed for their spatial characteristics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain the Inverse-Square Law in the context of sound.

<p>Sound intensity decreases with distance: A sound at 1 meter is twice as loud as a sound at 2 meters. Every doubling of distance reduces intensity by 6 dB.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does spectral composition act as a cue for distance?

<p>High-frequency sounds are absorbed by air more than low frequencies. Distant sounds have less high-frequency content, making them sound muddier.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Differentiate between Direct and Reverberant Energy of sound.

<p>Close sound sources have mostly direct energy. Distant sound sources have more reverberant (reflected) energy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Describe a Harmonic Spectrum.

<p>Many sounds, including voices and musical instruments, have a harmonic structure. Fundamental frequency: The lowest frequency of a sound. Harmonics (overtones): Integer multiples of the fundamental frequency.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the Missing Fundamental Effect?

<p>If the lowest frequency is removed, the brain still perceives it.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the Attack of a sound?

<p>How quickly a sound reaches its peak intensity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Define Decay in the context of sound.

<p>How quickly a sound fades away.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain Auditory Stream Segregation.

<p>We perceive separate 'streams' of sound when elements share similar properties.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Describe Gestalt Principles in Hearing.

<p>Similarity: Sounds with similar pitch/timbre are grouped together. Common Fate: Sounds that start and stop together are perceived as one source.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Define Azimuth.

<p>The horizontal angle of a sound source.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the Medial Superior Olive (MSO)?

<p>Brainstem structure detecting ITDs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the Lateral Superior Olive (LSO)?

<p>Brainstem structure detecting ILDs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Directional Transfer Function (DTF)?

<p>The filtering effect of the pinna on incoming sound.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Hearing

A spatial and temporal sense processing sound changes to help us understand our surroundings.

Sound Localization

The ability to pinpoint the direction and position of sounds in space.

Binaural Cues

Cues for sound localization that require input from both ears.

Interaural Time Difference (ITD)

The difference in arrival time of a sound at each ear.

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Lateral Superior Olive (LSO)

Brain region that is responsible for detecting ILDs.

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Head Shadow Effect

The head blocks sound, reducing its intensity at the far ear.

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Azimuth

The angle of a sound source relative to the listener's head.

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Cones of Confusion

Sound locations that produce identical ITDs and ILDs.

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Directional Transfer Function (DTF)

Describes how the outer ear filters frequencies based on sound location.

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Pinna

The visible part of the outer ear.

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Head Movements

Movements that help resolve sound localization ambiguity.

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Sound Intensity

The loudness of a sound.

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Low-Frequency Sounds

Sounds with frequencies less than 1000 Hz, best localized using ITD.

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High-Frequency Sounds

Sounds with frequencies greater than 1000 Hz, best localized using ILD.

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Sound Source Location

The specific position from which a sound originates.

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Ambiguity in Sound Localization

Uncertainty in determining a sound's exact location.

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Elevation

The up/down location of a sound source.

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Auditory Scene Analysis

Process of organizing sound into meaningful elements.

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Complex Sounds

Sounds of multiple frequencies analyzed for spatial characteristics.

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Inverse-Square Law

Sound intensity decreases with the square of the distance.

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Spectral Composition as a Distance Cue

Distant sounds have less high-frequency content, sounding muddier.

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Direct vs. Reverberant Energy

Close sources have mostly direct energy, distant sources more reverberant energy.

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Harmonics (overtones)

Integer multiples of the lowest frequency of a sound.

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Missing Fundamental Effect

Brain still perceives the fundamental frequency even if it is missing.

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Timbre

The unique quality of sound that differentiates sources.

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Attack

How quickly a sound reaches its peak intensity.

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Decay

How quickly a sound fades away.

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Auditory Stream Segregation

Perceiving separate sounds when elements share similar properties.

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Gestalt Principles in Hearing

Sounds with similar pitch/timbre are grouped together.

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Medial Superior Olive (MSO)

Brainstem structure detecting ITDs.

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Study Notes

  • Hearing is a spatial and temporal sense, processing sound changes to understand the environment

Sound Localization

  • Sound localization is the ability to determine a sound's direction and position.
  • Binaural cues, involving both ears, aid in sound localization.

Binaural Cues

  • Interaural Time Difference (ITD) is the time difference of sound arriving at each ear, best for localizing low-frequency sounds (below 1000 Hz).
  • Interaural Level Difference (ILD) represents the loudness difference between ears caused by the head shadow effect; it works best for high-frequency sounds (above 1000 Hz).
  • The head shadow effect occurs when the head acts as a sound barrier, reducing the amplitude of sounds reaching the far ear.
  • The Medial Superior Olive (MSO) is the brainstem structure that detects ITDs.
  • The Lateral Superior Olive (LSO) is the brainstem structure that detects ILDs.

Azimuth and Elevation

  • Azimuth refers to the angle of the sound source relative to the head.
  • The pinna (outer ear) is responsible for distinguishing elevation (up/down location) of a sound.
  • Directional Transfer Function (DTF) describes how the pinna, ear canal, and head filter frequencies differently depending on sound source location.

Ambiguity and Resolution

  • Cones of confusion are situations where multiple sound locations produce identical ITDs and ILDs.
  • Head movements help resolve ambiguity in sound localization by shifting the ITD and ILD.
  • Sound intensity, or loudness, varies between the two ears and aids in localization.

Sound Characteristics

  • Low-frequency sounds (less than 1000 Hz) are best localized using ITD.
  • High-frequency sounds (greater than 1000 Hz) are best localized using ILD.
  • The specific position from which a sound originates is defined as the sound source location.
  • Ambiguity in sound localization refers to the uncertainty in determining the exact location of a sound due to similar ITDs and ILDs.

Auditory Scene Analysis

  • Auditory Scene Analysis is the process of organizing sound into perceptually meaningful elements.
  • Complex sounds consist of multiple frequencies and can be analyzed for their spatial characteristics.
  • The Inverse-Square Law dictates that sound intensity decreases with distance; a sound at 1 meter is twice as loud as a sound at 2 meters.
  • Every doubling of distance reduces intensity by 6 dB.
  • Spectral composition acts as a distance cue, where distant sounds have less high-frequency content due to absorption, making them sound muddier.
  • Close sound sources have mostly direct energy, while distant sources have more reverberant (reflected) energy.

Harmonic Spectrum

  • Many sounds, including voices and musical instruments, have a harmonic structure.
  • The fundamental frequency is the lowest frequency of a sound.
  • Harmonics (overtones) are integer multiples of the fundamental frequency.
  • The missing fundamental effect describes how the brain still perceives the lowest frequency even if it is removed from the sound.
  • Timbre is the quality of sound that differentiates instruments/voices.
  • Attack describes how quickly a sound reaches its peak intensity.
  • Decay describes how quickly a sound fades away.

Auditory Organization

  • Auditory stream segregation is how separate 'streams' of sound are perceived when elements share similar properties.
  • According to Gestalt principles in hearing, similarity groups sounds with similar pitch/timbre.
  • Common fate groups sounds that start and stop together as one source.

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Description

Explore sound localization, the ability to determine a sound's direction. Learn about binaural cues like Interaural Time Difference (ITD) and Interaural Level Difference (ILD). Discover how the brainstem structures MSO and LSO detect these cues for spatial hearing.

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