Binaural fusion: Complexities in definition and measurement

Area of Science:

• Auditory Neuroscience
• Psychoacoustics
• Perception

Background:

• Binaural fusion is crucial for auditory perception but lacks a clear definition and standardized measurement.
• Existing research shows variability, indicating potential complexities in its nature and assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define and explore the complexities of binaural fusion.
• To highlight challenges in measuring binaural fusion.
• To provide guidelines for rigorous perceptual measurements and a working definition.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on binaural fusion.
• Analysis of measurement challenges and perceptual data.
• Discussion of multidimensionality, continuous scales, and individual differences.

Main Results:

• Binaural fusion may be multidimensional (e.g., spatial vs. spectral domains).
• Fusion occurs on a continuous scale, not binary.
• Responses are idiosyncratic, influenced by experimental instructions and measurement types (direct vs. indirect).

Conclusions:

• Standardized reporting of methodology, including experimental instructions, is essential for comparing studies.
• A nuanced understanding of binaural fusion's complexity is needed for accurate interpretation.
• Guidelines are provided for more rigorous perceptual measurements of binaural fusion.