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Sound externalization in dynamic binaural listening: A comparative behavioral and EEG study
Tom Colas1, Nicolas Farrugia2, Etienne Hendrickx1
1University of Brest, CNRS Lab-STICC UMR 6285, 6 avenue Victor Le Gorgeu, CS 93837, 29238 Brest Cedex 3, France.
Hearing Research
|November 12, 2023
Summary
Head movements, tracked or untracked, enhance auditory processing and improve virtual sound externalization. While head-tracked movements yielded better behavioral results, electroencephalography (EEG) did not show specific markers for improved externalization.
Area of Science:
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Virtual Acoustics
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Binaural audio aims to create realistic soundscapes via headphones, but often suffers from poor externalization, with virtual sounds perceived internally.
- Previous research indicates head movements can improve externalization, with benefits persisting post-movement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between sound externalization and evoked response potentials (ERPs).
- To determine how different types of head movements (tracked, untracked, none) affect auditory processing and externalization perception.
Main Methods:
- Participants underwent behavioral and electroencephalography (EEG) measurements.
- Experimental conditions included preceding measurements with head-tracked movements, untracked head movements, or no head movement.
- Evoked response potentials (ERPs) were analyzed to assess auditory processing changes.
Main Results:
- Head movements, regardless of tracking, increased the amplitude of auditory ERP components after 100 ms, suggesting altered auditory processing.
- Untracked head movements showed a stronger N1 component amplitude, potentially indicating a perceptual break from reality.
- Behavioral tests showed higher externalization scores after head-tracked movements, but EEG data lacked specific externalization markers.
Conclusions:
- Preceding head movements significantly alter auditory processing, as evidenced by changes in ERP amplitudes.
- While head movements improve subjective externalization, especially with head tracking, direct neural correlates of enhanced externalization remain elusive in ERPs.
- Further research is needed to identify neural markers associated with improved virtual sound externalization.
