Question

Explain, outline, or be able to draw the following:

the mechanisms that allow for sounds source localization, i.e. ITD and ILD

Answer 1

Interaural Time Difference

This can be explained as the difference in arrival time of a sound between two ears.Suppose the sound source is kept exactly in front of the head.And the distance between the source to both the ears are same ,then there will be no difference in the arrival time,(ITD will be zero)that is sound will reach both ears at the same time.But if the source is kept by a side ,ear near the source will detect the sound first that the far ear.

Interaural Level Difference

This can be explained as the shadowing effect of the head or any obstacle in its path.Some of the energy of the sound can be absorbed by the head .This causes a difference in the level of absorption by both the ears,which in turn makes a difference in intensity of the sound at each ear.This difference is called Interaural Level Difference.