Evolution shaped localization to favor broadband transient sounds like movement

Evidence

The signal content also has a strong effect on localization accuracy and localizability of sound sources. Accuracy is best with broadband sounds with strong temporal fluctuations, such as transients, speech, and noise in general. On the other hand, narrowband sounds, such as mosquito or certain bird sounds, can be very hard to localize, especially in rooms. This can be understood from the perspective of evolution. The correct localization of predators or prey is vitally important for survival, and the sounds generated by movements are typically broadband, impulse-like sounds. — Ville Pulkki, Matti Karjalainen, Communication Acoustics- An…, 1468

Categorization

• XREF: A functional-evolutionary reading of hearing that parallels adaptationist explanations for signal design in acoustic communication — connects to the acoustic-communication applications.
• SEED: Angle: why warning and alarm sounds (in tech, urban design, nature) all converge on broadband transients — evolution has pre-tuned our ears to a specific acoustic signature.