Azimuthal Sound Localization in the European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris): III. Comparison of Sound Localization Measures.

Azimuthal Sound Localization in the European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris): III. Comparison of Sound Localization Measures.
Hear Res. 2015 Apr 10;
Authors: Feinkohl A, Borzeszkowski KM, Klump GM
Abstract
Sound localization studies have typically employed two types of tasks: absolute tasks that measured the localization of the angular location of a single sound and relative tasks that measured the localization of the angular location of a sound relative to the angular location of another sound from a different source (e.g., in the Minimum Audible Angle task). The present study investigates the localization of single sounds in the European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) with a left/right discrimination paradigm. Localization thresholds of 8-12 degrees determined in starlings using this paradigm were much lower than the minimum audible angle thresholds determined in a previous study with the same individuals. The traditional concept of sound localization classifies the present experiment as an absolute localization. However, we propose that the experiment presenting single sounds measured localization of the angular location of the sound relative to a non-acoustic spatial frame of reference. We discuss how the properties of the setup can determine if presentation of single sounds in a left/right discrimination paradigm comprises an absolute localization task rather than a localization task relative to a non-acoustic reference. Furthermore, t...

Source: Hearing Research - April 10, 2015 Category: Audiology Authors: Feinkohl A, Borzeszkowski KM, Klump GM Tags: Hear Res Source Type: research