Role of pinna cavities in median plane localization
Kazuhiro Iida, Motoki Yairi, Masayuki Morimoto · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · 1998
This paper investigates the role of pinna cavities in median plane localization. First, sound image localization tests were carried out under the conditions of progressively occluding three pinna cavities: scapha, fossa, and concha. Second, HRTFs were measured under the same conditions as those of the localization tests. Finally, the results of the localization tests and those of HRTFs measurements were compared. The results of the localization tests and the HRTFs measurements show: (1) Concha plays a great role in median plane localization regardless of the source elevation. (2) The amplitude spectrum of HRTFs shows a significant change in cases of concha occlusion. The comparisons of these results suggest that (3) the spectral cue in median plane localization is mainly formed by concha. (4) However, the degree of localization error which was caused by the occlusion of the pinna cavities depends on the subjects.