The Psychophysics and Physiology of the Lateralization of Transient Stimuli

Binaural summation and lateralization of transients: A combined analysis

“…Many studies suggest that the image will be completely lateralized when the interaural difference is about 10 dB (B•k•sy, 1959, 1960Babkoff, 1982;Babkoff et al, 1973;Durlach and Colburn, 1978), but some studies report lateralization with smaller (Flanagan et al, 1964) or with greater (Guttman, 1962a) intensity asymmetry. Generally, lateralization based on interaural intensity asymmetry seems to be less influenced by spectral and overall level characteristics of the stimulus than lateralization based on interaural time asymmetry (Babkoff, 1982). When there is a pure interaural time difference, it is mainly the low-frequency segment (below about 1200-1500 Hz) of short-duration pure tones, broadband noises, or clicks that affects lateralization.…”

“…Complex signals, containing high-frequency components, can nevertheless be lateralized on a pure interaural time difference basis due to envelope modulation characteristics. Overall intensity affects onset-asynchrony-induced lateralization with clicks (and other broadband signals), yet the results are contradictory (compare summaries by Babkoff, 1982).…”

“…If the interval is increased to between 500 ps and 1 ms, most subjects report a unitary stimulus located at the lead ear. When the interval is increased to a value between 2-4 ms, two stimuli are reported, one at the lead ear and a very slight, just perceptible stimulus at the lag ear (Babkoff, 1975(Babkoff, , 1980(Babkoff, , 1982Babkoff et al, , 1981Sutton, 1963, 1966).…”