Plausibility and expectation drive perceived vertical localization more than physical cues

Evidence

Vertical localization “blur” (uncertainty) is about 17° for an unfamiliar voice, about 9° for a familiar voice and 4° for white noise (Blauert, 1996). 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. … We rely greatly on “plausibility” when localizing in complex situations. Aircraft are automatically assumed to be above us. Nothing is localized below the floor. Voices are where the lips are on the screen—the ventriloquism effect. If listeners are predisposed to think that sounds are coming from above, that is what they are likely to perceive; hence the emphasis on hovering helicopters and bird sounds in demonstrations of immersive sound systems. — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 1762 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Elevation localization is a timbral recognition task driven by resonant peaks — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 744; Sound localization by elevation is guided by plausibility, not just acoustics — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 1762

Broader Connections

• Sound localization by elevation is guided by plausibility, not just acoustics #corroborates (0.95) — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 1762