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Related Experiment Videos

Direction-dependent amplification of the human outer ear.

W H Fischer1, J W Schäfer

  • 1ENT Clinic, University of Ulm, Germany.

British Journal of Audiology
|April 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary
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This study mapped how the outer ear amplifies sound. It found specific directions and frequencies that maximize sound amplification in the ear canal, especially at higher frequencies.

Area of Science:

  • Acoustics
  • Bioacoustics
  • Human Auditory Perception

Background:

  • The outer ear, including the pinna and ear canal, plays a crucial role in sound localization and amplification.
  • Understanding the directional transfer function of the human ear is essential for fields like audiology, virtual reality, and acoustics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the directional transfer function (DTF) of the human outer ear using the impulse technique.
  • To investigate how sound pressure levels in the ear canal vary with the direction of sound incidence.
  • To quantify the frequency-dependent amplification provided by the outer ear.

Main Methods:

  • Impulse technique was employed to measure the transfer function.
  • Sound signals were delivered from numerous positions (325 or 393) on an imaginary sphere around the subject.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Sound pressure levels in the ear canal were measured to analyze amplification.
  • Free-field transfer functions were measured to quantify amplification for frequencies between 2 and 15 kHz.

    • Main Results:

    • Specific frequency bands are maximally amplified when sound impinges on the ear from particular directions.
    • For certain frequencies, two distinct directions of sound incidence yield the maximum amplification in the ear canal.
    • The directionality of the human pinna (outer ear) increases with higher frequencies.
    • The outer ear's amplification of frequencies between 2 and 15 kHz was quantified.

    Conclusions:

    • The human outer ear exhibits significant direction-dependent amplification properties.
    • These directional characteristics are frequency-dependent, becoming more pronounced at higher frequencies.
    • The findings provide valuable data for understanding human auditory spatial perception and for developing acoustic models.