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Comparison of two response tracking methods for sound localization with concealed sound sources
Franz-Ullrich Müller1,2, Sebastian Roth3,4, Julian Angermeier5
1Department of Electrical Engineering, Medical Engineering and Computer Science, Peter Osypka Institute of medical engineering, NeuroAkustik, Offenburg University of Applied Sciences, Badstraße 24, 77652, Offenburg, Germany. franz-ullrich.mueller@hochschule-offenburg.de.
Scientific Reports
|July 15, 2026
Summary
The egocentric LED-based method offers more accurate sound localization than the exocentric tablet-based method, despite longer trial times. Choosing the right response method is crucial for reliable sound localization experiments.
Area of Science:
- Auditory perception research
- Human-computer interaction
- Acoustics and signal processing
Background:
- Accurate sound localization measurement is vital, especially without visual cues.
- Response methods significantly impact perceived sound source direction accuracy.
- Existing high-end tracking systems are often complex and costly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the accuracy and efficiency of two response tracking methods for sound localization.
- To evaluate an egocentric LED-based method against an exocentric tablet-based method.
- To understand how different response methods affect sound localization performance.
Main Methods:
- 20 normal-hearing participants performed free-field sound localization tasks.
- Compared an egocentric LED-based method with an exocentric tablet-based method.
- Analyzed localization error (RMSE) and trial duration for each method.
Main Results:
- The LED-based method showed significantly lower localization error (RMSE: 5.4°) than the tablet-based method (RMSE: 7.4°).
- The tablet-based method's error was largely due to finger-to-target discrepancies.
- Both methods displayed systematic errors like central shifts and reduced lateral precision.
Conclusions:
- The choice of response method critically influences sound localization measurements.
- Egocentric LED-based tracking offers higher accuracy but increases trial duration.
- Method-specific biases must be considered when designing and interpreting localization studies.
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