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Auditory distance perception in humans: a review of cues, development, neuronal bases, and effects of sensory loss

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posted on 2023-07-26, 13:53 authored by Andrew J. Kolarik, Brian C. J. Moore, Pavel Zahorik, Silvia Cirstea, Shahina Pardhan
Auditory distance perception plays a major role in spatial awareness, enabling location of objects and avoidance of obstacles in the environment. However, it remains under-researched relative to studies of the directional aspect of sound localization. This review focuses on the following four aspects of auditory distance perception: cue processing, development, consequences of visual and auditory loss, and neurological bases. The several auditory distance cues vary in their effective ranges in peripersonal and extrapersonal space. The primary cues are sound level, reverberation, and frequency. Nonperceptual factors, including the importance of the auditory event to the listener, also can affect perceived distance. Basic internal representations of auditory distance emerge at approximately 6 months of age in humans. Although visual information plays an important role in calibrating auditory space, sensorimotor contingencies can be used for calibration when vision is unavailable. Blind individuals often manifest supranormal abilities to judge relative distance but show a deficit in absolute distance judgments. Following hearing loss, the use of auditory level as a distance cue remains robust, while the reverberation cue becomes less effective. Previous studies have not found evidence that hearing-aid processing affects perceived auditory distance. Studies investigating the brain areas involved in processing different acoustic distance cues are described. Finally, suggestions are given for further research on auditory distance perception, including broader investigation of how background noise and multiple sound sources affect perceived auditory distance for those with sensory loss.

History

Refereed

  • Yes

Volume

78

Issue number

2

Page range

373-395

Publication title

Attention, Perception, and Psychophysics

ISSN

1943-393X

Publisher

Springer

File version

  • Published version

Language

  • eng

Legacy posted date

2016-08-09

Legacy creation date

2016-08-08

Legacy Faculty/School/Department

ARCHIVED Faculty of Medical Science (until September 2018)

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