The position-variable model at 40

Abstract

The position-variable model was first described in 1976 as a means to characterize and predict a variety of binaural lateralization, discrimination, and detection phenomena. The model was motivated by a desire for a more complete understanding of the putative mechanisms by which interaural time and intensity differences were combined, as well as the extent to which results in interaural discrimination and binaural detection experiments are mediated by cues based on subjective lateral position. Predictions of the model were based on the patterns of activity of the display of information proposed earlier by Jeffress and Colburn, based on the auditory-nerve response to the experimental stimuli. The model was originally limited to predictions for a limited set of experiments at 500 Hz. While various extensions of the model have been proposed over the years, they frequently were developed based on incomplete or inconsistent model formulations. This paper describes the capabilities of an extended implementation...