Free field auditory localization and perception

Abstract

We have designed a system suitable for auditory electroencephalographic (EEG) experiments, with the objective of enabling studies of auditory motion. This thesis details the perceptual cues involved in spatial auditory experiments, and compares a number of spatial panning algorithms while examining their suitability to this purpose. A behavioural experiment involving perception of static auditory objects was used in an attempt to differentiate these panning algorithms. This study was used to inform the panner choice used in an auditory EEG experiment. This auditory EEG experiment involved the effects of discontinuity in velocity and position, and their affects on object perception. A new event related potential (ERP) component – the lateralized object related negativity (LORN) – was identified, and we consider its significance. libnetstation, a library for connecting with the NetStation (EEG) system has been developed, and released as open source software.