Effect of Induced Head Movements on Localization of Direction of Sounds

Abstract

Localization of direction of sound sources was studied as a function of induced head movements. High- and low-frequency noise and pulse stimuli were used. Subjects had had no special training and were blindfolded to remove visual cues. Sources were located to the right and left of the subject, in front and behind, and above and below the horizontal plane through the ears of the subject. Induced head rotation was especially effective in reducing horizontal localization error. Rotation, pivot, and rotate-pivot movements caused a small but significant reduction in vertical localization error for low-frequency noise stimuli.