Abstract:

Head movements in all three planes were measured while listeners localized a pulse of transient sounds (train of 100 (mu)s broadband impulses) located in the frontal azimuth plane. The eight loudspeakers were at the same height as the head of the seated listener. They were located every 25.7(degrees) from +90(degrees) to -90(degrees), where 0(degrees) is straight ahead. Some listeners were able to see the eight sound sources, while for other listeners the sound sources were hidden from view. In addition, listeners were instructed differently in terms of the necessity for high accuracy or fast reaction. In all cases, the primary means of the listener locating the sound source was head movements. Listeners were instructed to face the source of the sound so that their nose was facing directly at the perceived sound source. The results will be discussed in terms of processing sounds in dynamic listening situations. [Research supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and a Program Project Grant from the NIDCD, DC00293.]