Localization performance of binaurally recorded sounds with and without training

One of the problems associated with listening to binaurally recorded sound events is localization confusions. The main objective of this investigation was to find out whether a short training session prior to listening to bin aural recordings through headphones would facilitate correct spatial percep tion of the sound field. Focus was on the localization of the sound stimuli in median plane. Sound signals were recorded with an artificial head in th ree different conditions namely, anechoic, highly reverberant and moderatel y reverberant. Fourteen subjects participated in the listening tests. All s ubjects were required to localize all virtual sound stimuli under two diffe rent conditions. The first condition had a short training session binaurall y recorded in the same environments as preceeding sound stimuli, and only s ound stimuli recorded in the same environment were presented. The second co ndition did not have a training session, and sound stimuli recorded in diff erent environments were presented. Results showed that a short training ses sion prior to listening to binaurally recorded sounds through headphones wa s useful as it facilitated localization performance. The biggest effect was in reduced amount of sounds perceived inside the head. It was most pronoun ced for sound stimuli recorded in anechoic environment. (C) 2001 Elsevier S cience B.V. All rights reserved.