SOUND LOCALIZATION - INFORMATION-THEORY ANALYSIS

Sound localization has been studied extensively. Curiously, although m uch is known about factors that affect errors, little is known about f actors that influence response time. Three experiments ir ere performe d in an attempt to identify the separate influence of each of several different factors. All trials used a single broadband noise signal ema nating from one of a subset of six loudspeakers equally spaced around the participant in the azimuthal plane. Both the size of the subset an d the balance of relative probabilities from speaker to speaker were a ltered to evaluate the relationship between information content and th e dependent variable, choice reaction time. Choice reaction time was f ound to be related to the information content of the sound stimulus in all cases. ft was also found to be related to the presence of pairs o f speakers that were symmetrically opposed in front of and behind the participant. Models of choice reaction time in a sound localization ta sk have clear implications for practice. For example, they suggest tha t multiple auditory collision warnings may endanger drivers.