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Perceiving Loudness, Pitch, and Location

Perceiving Loudness, Pitch, and Location

The human brain perceives pitch through two primary mechanisms reflected in place theory and frequency theory. Each mechanism describes how sound waves are interpreted as specific pitches by the brain, offering insights into the intricate processes of auditory perception.
Place theory, or place coding, suggests that different pitches are heard because various sound waves activate specific locations along the cochlea's basilar membrane. The brain determines the pitch of a sound by...

The Cochlea

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Sound Intensity Level

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 31, 2025

Sound Source Localization Testing in Single-sided Deafness Following Bone Conduction Intervention

Sound Source Localization Testing in Single-sided Deafness Following Bone Conduction Intervention

Published on: December 20, 2024

Source localization by matching sound intensity with a vertical array in the deep ocean.

Wenxu Liu¹, Yixin Yang¹, Liangang Lü²

¹School of Marine Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, China.

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America

|January 3, 2020

Summary

This study introduces a passive method to locate submerged broadband sources in the deep ocean using acoustic interference patterns. The technique accurately estimates both the depth and range of underwater sound sources.

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Area of Science:

Ocean acoustics
Underwater acoustics
Signal processing

Background:

The reliable acoustic path (RAP) is crucial for estimating source depth in deep ocean environments.
Passive acoustic methods are vital for monitoring submerged sources without active transmissions.

Purpose of the Study:

To demonstrate a passive broadband source localization method using acoustic interference.
To estimate both the depth and range of submerged broadband sources.

Main Methods:

Utilizing the interference of broadband signals with a non-synchronous vertical array within the RAP.
Calculating acoustic intensity distribution versus frequency and depth from array data.
Employing interference characteristics to determine source location.

Main Results:

Successfully located a broadband submerged source in the 10-30 km range.
Demonstrated method effectiveness through simulations and a western Pacific experiment.
Acoustic intensity analysis revealed source characteristics.

Conclusions:

The developed passive method effectively localizes broadband submerged sources in the deep ocean.
Acoustic interference patterns provide valuable information for source depth and range estimation.
This technique offers a viable solution for passive underwater source localization.