Sound localization ability in a median plane varies among individuals. We analyzed the relationship between the ability and pinna shape features, such as a pinna length and a pinna angle, which are invariants for sound directions. We hypothesize that the pinna shape features should depend on sound directions, because the ability is different in sound directions in a median plane. Therefore, we use the specular reflection shape method for 3D shape models with light directions. The method is applied by sound directions replacing light directions and the vision point replacing the hearing point to apply to pinna shape features. We analyze the relationship between sound localization ability and the specular reflection shape feature descriptors. We find that the specular reflection shape method is related to sound localization ability in a median plane, and the earlobe transformation and the head movements modify the sound localization ability.

Authors: Shibata, Tatsuya; Watanabe, Yuko; Michishita, Akito
Affiliations: Tokyo Denki University; Adachi, Tokyo, Japan; Route Theta, Chiba, Japan(See document for exact affiliation information.)
AES Conference: 2018 AES International Conference on Spatial Reproduction - Aesthetics and Science (July 2018)
Paper Number: EB1-5
Publication Date: July 30, 2018
Session Subject: Sound localization; Pinna shape features; Median plane

Click to purchase paper as a non-member or you can login as an AES member to see more options.

No AES members have commented on this paper yet.

Subscribe to this discussion

To be notified of new comments on this paper you can subscribe to this RSS feed. Forum users should login to see additional options.

Start a discussion!

If you would like to start a discussion about this paper and are an AES member then you can login here:
Username:
Password:

If you are not yet an AES member and have something important to say about this paper then we urge you to join the AES today and make your voice heard. You can join online today by clicking here.