Abstract
Successful replication of an experiment by Butler and Humanski (1992) showed that listeners are able to proficiently localize sources on a lateral vertical plane on the basis of interaural differences alone. When a lateral horizontal array was included in the test setup, that finding was replicated only for a broadband signal interacting with the pinna, not for ones (lowpass and pure tone) providing only interaural differences. Cross-plane errors conforming to “cones of confusion” were observed for those latter sounds. In a second experiment, response options were made more unconstrained, which clarified the nature of the cross-plane confusions. Lowpass signals from lateral vertical plane sources tend to be heard at or close to the horizon. Measurement of cue values needs to take account of the response options available to listeners, as well as signal properties.
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The research reported here was supported in part by grants from the Faculty Research Committee of the University of New England and from the Australian Research Council.
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Perrett, S., Noble, W. Available response choices affect localization of sound. Perception & Psychophysics 57, 150–158 (1995). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03206501
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03206501