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What the precedence effect tells us about room acoustics
Rachel K Clifton1, Richard L Freyman, Jennifer Meo
1Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 01003, USA. rachel@psych.umass.edu
Perception & Psychophysics
|May 16, 2002
Summary
The precedence effect allows us to hear one sound despite reflections. This study shows echo perception depends on how lagging sound locations change, revealing room acoustics influence our auditory experience.
Area of Science:
- Auditory perception
- Acoustic psychology
- Psychoacoustics
Background:
- Sound in enclosed spaces creates reflections, yet humans perceive a single source.
- The precedence effect explains this, but its echo suppression mechanism is unclear.
- Reflected sound may provide crucial environmental information.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if lagging sound location information is perceived.
- To determine if this information is critical for the precedence effect.
- To understand how room acoustics and listener expectations modulate echo perception.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments were conducted to test listener perception.
- Stimuli simulated sudden vs. stable changes in lagging sound locations.
- Listener reports of echo perception were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Listeners reported more echoes with sudden, unexpected location changes.
- Echo perception was linked to the new location specifying a new reflecting surface.
- The fusion aspect of the precedence effect was not disrupted by location shifts alone.
Conclusions:
- Echo perception is modulated by acoustic information in reflected sound.
- Listener expectations about room acoustics influence the precedence effect.
- The brain uses reflected sound location to interpret environmental structures.