In-head sound localization may originate as a defensive response to ambiguous sources

Evidence

The default perception might have its origins in a human defense mechanism in which sounds that are not reliably identified or are from an invisible source may be perceived to be inside the head or behind—anywhere outside the field of view. The head spontaneously moves, and the correct direction is revealed but only if the sound continues. An isolated twig “snap” no doubt presented anxious moments for our hunter-gatherer ancestors. — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 289

Categorization

Category: Causal Relationships

• XREF: Connects to evolutionary accounts of hearing like those behind the soundscape literature (Truax).
• CANDY: The idea that in-head headphone sound is an ancestral ‘unidentified threat’ response is an easily shareable nugget.

Related

• Unidentified or invisible sounds are perceived as coming from behind the head (similarity 0.93)