Virtual auditory localization in noise

Abstract

Interfering sounds have different interaural cross correlations (IACCs) depending on the location and environment in which they are produced. IACCs, in addition to signal bandwidth and signal-to-noise ratio, influence localization acuity. Most localization experiments use stimuli presented in the free-field without maskers or with one directional masker [Good and Gilkey, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 99, 1108–1117 (1996)]. Hirsh [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 22, 196–200 (1950)] and Mershon and Lin [Ergonomics 30, 1161–1173 (1987)] have measured auditory localization in reverberant environments. However, in these studies the signals and masker(s) were presented in the reverberant environment. No studies have addressed the effects of diffuse noise on auditory localization over headphones. The current study examines the effect of band passing a directional noise signal presented over headphones masked by noises of different interaural cross correlations. The signal-to-noise ratio is varied from +10 to −10 dB, and the signal is low-pass filtered at 1.6, 4, 8, and 15 kHz. Findings from this study have implications for models of binaural hearing and the design of directional audio displays.