Interaural intensity difference

Interaural level difference refers to the fact that a sound coming from the right side of your body is more intense at your right ear than at your left ear because of the attenuation of the sound wave as it passes through your head.

1. What causes interaural intensity differences?
2. What is interaural intensity?
3. What are interaural time difference used for?
4. Why is interaural time difference better for low frequency?

What causes interaural intensity differences?

Intensity differences between the ears can result from two factors: differences in the distance the sound must travel to the two ears and differences in the degree to which the head casts a sound shadow. The greater the sound shadow cast by the head, the greater the level difference between the ears.

What is interaural intensity?

Interaural intensity differences (IIDs) are the binaural cues that animals use to localize high frequency sounds (Erulkar, 1972; Irvine, 1992). In mammals, IIDs are first coded in the lateral superior olive (LSO).

What are interaural time difference used for?

Interaural time differences (ITDs) are one of the primary cues available to the auditory system for determining the spatial location of sound sources. ITDs come about due to the separation of the two ears in space, and the resulting differences in path length that a sound must travel to reach the two ears.

Why is interaural time difference better for low frequency?

ITD is the delay between both ears. It is efficient for low frequencies (below 850 Hz). It is due to the envelope of the signal reaching the two ears. It can be reminded that a sound coming from the side at 90° has an ITD of 0.6 ms.