Monaural spectral cues alone permit sound localization with degraded accuracy
Evidence
Another case where monaural (spectral) cues are of the utmost importance is when a listener has only one ear in effective use. Localization of sound sources is still possible, although the accuracy is strongly degraded (Blauert, 1996). — Ville Pulkki, Matti Karjalainen, Communication Acoustics- An…, 1456 (
#corroborates, via linked claim)
However, vertical localization is mainly a spectral/timbral recognition exercise, which is a very different phenomenon. Vertical localization “blur” (uncertainty) is about 17° for an unfamiliar voice, about 9° for a familiar voice and 4° for white noise (Blauert, 1996). Being more precise about vertical angles, the range of angular uncertainty for continuous speech by a familiar person is about 18° horizontally in front, 20° at 30° elevation, 26° at 74° elevation, and 44° at 18° behind directly overhead (Damaske and Wagener, 1969, 207. as reported in Blauert, 1996). These are huge uncertainties, however confident we feel about our perceived localizations. If we have no idea of the spectral content of a specific sound, there is no assurance that we would automatically perceive it at its true elevation. — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 748 (
#complicates, via linked claim)
Categorization
- XREF: connects to: Human sound localization is remarkably accurate given it processes only two ear signals. — Ville Pulkki, Matti Karjalainen, Communication Acoustics- An…, 1423; Front and back sound localization requires other mechanisms than ITD — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 717; Spectral elevation cues predict human sound-localization performance via machine learning (+5 more)
Broader Connections
- Single-ear listeners can still localize sound sources but with degraded accuracy
#corroborates(0.95) — Ville Pulkki, Matti Karjalainen, Communication Acoustics- An…, 1456 - Elevation localization rests on spectral recognition of familiar sounds, not spatial cues.
#complicates(0.72) — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 748