Head Movements During Sound Localization

Abstract
Subjects were photographed with moving-picture camera as they attempted to localize each of 10 sound sources in an anechoic room. High- and low-bandpass thermal noise stimuli of 5-sec. duration were used. Changes in angular position of the head head about a vertical axis (turning, left or right) were most commonly found[long dash]alone, in combination with tipping movement (nose up or down), or combination with both tipping and pivot movements. A ("pivot" movement involves an increase in vertical height of one ear and a decrease in vertical height of the other.) A number of subjects also showed reversals in movement. The reversals were most prominent in the case of rotation movements. Quantitative summaries of observed movements are given.