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Binaural image position distributions for phase-shifted low frequency tone bursts
1Department of Psychology, Brooklyn College, CUNY, Brooklyn, New York 11210, USA. eosman@comcast.net
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
|July 27, 2011
Summary
A preceding sound reference shifts perceived sound image location, influencing its statistical properties. This suggests central auditory system noise limits performance, not stimulus phase differences.
Area of Science:
- Auditory perception
- Psychoacoustics
- Computational neuroscience
Background:
- Understanding the statistical properties of perceived sound images is crucial for auditory research.
- Binaural hearing and interaural phase differences (IPDs) significantly influence sound localization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To precisely measure the statistical properties of intracranial sound image lateral positions.
- To investigate the effects of monaural tone burst references on sound image localization.
- To determine the influence of interaural phase differences (IPDs) on perceived sound image statistics.
Main Methods:
- Listeners judged intracranial sound image lateral positions.
- Stimuli included binaural tone bursts with varying IPDs.
- A preceding monaural reference tone burst was presented, either to the left or right.
Main Results:
- Monaural references shifted perceived sound image positions toward the opposite side of the head.
- Position distribution variance and skewness depended on the mean position, not IPD.
- Standard deviation increased with lateral displacement from midline; distributions skewed ipsilaterally near midline and toward midline near the ears.
Conclusions:
- Perceived sound image statistics are primarily influenced by the mean position, not stimulus IPD.
- The auditory system's performance limitations likely originate centrally, beyond brainstem coincidence detector networks.
- Monaural references provide a significant cue for sound image repositioning.
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