Binaural hearing and Sound Localization Flashcards
What are some binaural Summations/Benefits for localization? (4)
- Increase loudness
- Improvement in differential limen
- Better perception in noise: spatial filtering
- **Binaural fusion and beats
How does Binaural summation benefit loudness perception?
Increase loudness perception near threshold: 3 dB perfect
2:1 or 6 dB above threshold
What is binaural fusion?
It is one example of binaural interaction on hearing, more examples exists, such as central masking, contralateral suppression, co-modulation release, etc.
What does this graph show related to binaural summation for loudness?
Binaural Hearing increases loudness by ~6 dB
What is a differential limen?
The smallest change in stimulation that a person can detect
What is the difference between unilateral and binaural hearing in discrimination?
Binaural hearing is better than unilateral in discrimination, especially at low sensation levels (SL) due to binaural summation in loudness
What is the effect of binaural hearing on frequency and intensity discrimination?
Binaural advantage on frequency and intensity discrimination.
(The binaural benefit can’t be attributed to binaural summation on loudness because it would require more than a 30 dB diff in loudness to produce such a difference in discrimination.)
According to Pickle, and Harris (1955), what is the difference in the differential limen between unilateral and binaural hearing?
adjust level to account for loudness advantage—a difference in discrimination threshold between binaural and unilateral hearing (disappeared at low SL)
According to Jesteadt (1977), what is the effect of binaural hearing on differential limen of intensity and frequency?
Binaural hearing causes better intensity and frequency discrimination (at 70 dB), not due to loudness advantage.
It is understandable why the improved discrimination is related to ________________________________: discrimination is NOT level dependent if signals are _________________________; better discrimination is seen in ________________________.
It is understandable why the improved discrimination is related to binaural summation on loudness: discrimination is NOT level dependent if signals are well above the threshold in SL; better discrimination is seen in binaural hearing.
What are the benefits of the potential mechanisms for binaural hearing in noise? (4)
Separates target sound from noise (spatial filtering)
Improves discrimination
Improves stream tracking of target sound
Unmasking (via efferent control and other
Binaural fusion is related to: (2)
Binaural cues for the acoustic image in space: Binaural differences in intensity, spectrum, and timing
Fused image
Fused image from binaural fusion is related to:
The fact that we do not feel that two ears work separately, but dichotic signals can be different or similar and be connected in certain ways
_________________ is required for binaural fusion
The commonality
Model by Cherry and Sayers: binaural fusion from two ears receiving similar signals: commonalities
What are three examples of commonality for binaural fusion?
Co-modulation of harmonics presented dichotically (different components go to each ear).
Different speech components to each ear: complimentary for speech.
Residual pitch harmonics are presented dichotically.
Binaural beats (BB) occur in the ________ while monaural beats (MB) in the ________.
BB are in the ________________ frequency range than MB.
BB can occur at a ________________ and ____________________between the two tones; one tone can be______________________.
- BB occurs in CAS, while MB in the cochlea.
- BB occurs in a lower frequency range than MB.
- BB can occur at a larger level difference and at a larger frequency difference between the two tones; one tone can be below the audible level.
Gestalt principle states that:
When you’re presented with a set of ambiguous or complex objects, your brain will make them appear as simple as possible.
- Grouping units (sounds) together
- More than simple addition
- The whole is larger than the simple sum of all parts
*Principle can be seen in vision
In a c complex auditory task like tracking a target talker at a cocktail party, what are the cues that may be used in this situation? (5)
- Spectrum profile of the talker’s speech
- Temporal stream of the speech
- Spatial separation/identification
- Many more (such as familiarity, dynamic cues etc)
- Bottom-up and top-down processes involved.
What does this graph show related to the segregation of sounds in binaural hearing?
Segregation of the stream by the speed
What can we see from the Stream 1 and 2 effect of both speed and frequency difference?
When the frequency segregation is larger, you hear two streams at higher speeds.
However, you always hear one stream when the frequency segregation is small (galloping).
Give other phenomena and terms in signal processing.
Proximity (similarity): e.g.: similar signals for easy dichotic fusion
Common fate (e.g., on and off together are
the same and likely attribute them together)
Good continuation
Primitive process- Bottom up
Schema-based process- top down
What is Schema based learning?
Schema-basedlearning is an active process in which learners construct new ideas or concepts based on their existing knowledge
Importance of common onset: example of common fate
A: simple masking: on band of masker upon the signal
B: co-modulation masking release (CMR): reduced masking effect when the noise in the signal band and side bands are co-modulated.
C: CMR disappears due to the mismatched onset of noise between the signal band and the side bands.
Give an example of a primitive process:
Bottom-up
Frequency Modulation leads to vowel sensation
Example of good continuation in vision
Gliding tone: example of continuation in acoustics from blocking by fence (noise), not a blank in picket fence effect
What is the picket fence effect?
It is a bottom-up and top-down process combination causing a continuous signal when blocked by a fence (noise), not a blank gap.
The top-down process is involved, especially in the shape perception in the most right graph.
(example with gliding tone)
What are the two planes for sound localization?
Azimuth (more critical) vs elevation (vertical plan)
(our system combines the information from these planes to form the location of the sound source)
Azimuth vs Elevation
Azimuth = Horizontal plane
Elevation = Medial Plane
We investigate the sound source localization ability in two measurements: _________________ and _________________
localization and discrimination
What is localization error and what is the task associated with this measure?
The difference between apparent location and physical location
The subject must point to the sound source with no reference just hearing the sound
What is spatial discrimination and its task?
It is measured as the minimal audible angle
(Direction major task, distance, and moving)
What are the two listening fields we use to measure sound localization ability?
Open field (closer to reality)
Close field
What is close field testing in sound localization?
We use headphones which lead to intracranial lateralization
(Sound source trapped inside our head likely due to the loss of resonance in the ear)
What is open field testing in sound localization?
We use stereophony which leads to extracranial, feeling the sound source (outside our head) localization to both ears (closer to reality)
What are the two general issues (questions we ask ourselves for sound localization?
What are the cues for SL and how are they used?
What are the approaches to answer these considerations for sound localization? (2)
Behavior studies and neurological mechanisms
What are the cues for sound localization?
ITD/IPD (phase difference)
IID/ILD