Lateralization and Intensity Discrimination

Abstract

This study reports the effects of various binaural intensity patterns on the discrimination of changes in the position and intensity of binaurally induced auditory images. The difference limen obtained for just‐noticeable shift of an auditory image is in most cases not significantly different from the difference limen observed in discrimination of a just‐noticeable change in the intensity of the signal. Only under low intensity levels is such a difference noted. Significant effects are observed as a function of the binaural intensity pattern employed. Also an increase intensity of the signal invariably produced a smaller just‐noticeable difference than a decrease in the intensity of the signal. A functional relationship is indicated between image movement and sensitivity to intensity change.