How do we localize the source of a sound?
A)We attend to the point of greatest response on the basilar membrane.
B)We attend to fluctuations in the sound over time.
C)We compare the responses of the left and right ears.
D)We attend to the timbre of the sound.

Question

How do we localize the source of a sound?​
A)We attend to the point of greatest response on the basilar membrane.
B)​We attend to fluctuations in the sound over time.
C)​We compare the responses of the left and right ears.
D)​We attend to the timbre of the sound.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

We localize the source of a sound by comparing the responses of the left and right ears, which allow us to perceive the sound's direction and distance. This is known as binaural hearing, and it works because the sound waves reach the two ears at slightly different times and intensities, allowing the brain to triangulate the sound's origin. Option A is incorrect because the basilar membrane is only involved in coding the frequency of the sound, not its location. Option B is also incorrect because fluctuations in sound over time are more relevant for speech processing and sound recognition than for sound localization. Option D is irrelevant because the timbre of the sound refers to its tone quality, not its location.

How Do We Localize the Source of a Sound?​

How Do We Localize the Source of a Sound?