Interaural sound pressure level differences associated with sound-source locations in the frontal hemifield of the domestic cat

Interaural sound pressure level differences (ILDs) associated with a range of sound-source azimuths and elevations in the frontal hemifields of four cats were measured for each of seven pure-tone stimuli ranging in frequency from 2-32 kHz. The overall pattern of ILD across location at each frequency was remarkably similar in all cats. At 2, 4 and 8 kHz the relationships of ILD to azimuth and elevation were generally monotonic with ILD increasing with increasing azimuth. At 12 kHz and above, however, non-monotonic relationships developed and circumscribed regions of particularly large, positive and negative ILDs were apparent. That ILDs associated with many sound-source locations on the near side of the head are negative in sign has not been widely noted in the previous literature. The data obtained in this study were compared with those from previous studies and the acoustical mechanisms likely to have contributed to production of the observed ILDs were considered. Some implications of the data for auditory localization in three-dimensional space were discussed.

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