Detection and Discrimination of Approaching and Receding Puretones

Abstract

The detection and discrimination of approaching and receding pure tones was measured using simulated moving sounds over headphones. Low and mid frequency pure tones were used as stimuli to determine how listeners used binaural, intensity, and Doppler frequency changes to detect and discriminate approaching and receding sounds. Overall, best performance was found when all three cues were provided to the listener, i.e. the cues were combined in the auditory system to make a high-order judgment of sound source motion in an efficient manner. Differences were found in the subjects' ability to detect approaching and receding sounds for the 1000 Hz stimulus, but not for the 200 Hz stimulus.