On the Adaptation to Non-Individualized HRTF Auralizations: A Longitudinal Study

Mendonça C, Santos JA, Campos G, Dias P, Vieira J. On the Adaptation to Non-Individualized HRTF Auralizations: A Longitudinal Study. In: AES Conference: 45th International Conference: Applications of Time-Frequency Processing in Audio. Audio Engineering Society; 2012. Paper 4-2. Available from: https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=16181

@inproceedings{Mendonca2012_16181,
  author = {Mendonça, Catarina and Santos, Jorge A. and Campos, Guilherme and Dias, Paulo and Vieira, José},
  title = {{On the Adaptation to Non-Individualized HRTF Auralizations: A Longitudinal Study}},
  booktitle = {AES Conference: 45th International Conference: Applications of Time-Frequency Processing in Audio},
  note = {Paper 4-2},
  year = {2012},
  month = mar,
  publisher = {Audio Engineering Society},
  url = {https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=16181}
}

TY  - CPAPER
TI  - On the Adaptation to Non-Individualized HRTF Auralizations: A Longitudinal Study
AU  - Mendonça, Catarina
AU  - Santos, Jorge A.
AU  - Campos, Guilherme
AU  - Dias, Paulo
AU  - Vieira, José
T2  - AES Conference: 45th International Conference: Applications of Time-Frequency Processing in Audio
M1  - Paper 4-2
PY  - 2012
DA  - 2012/03/06
UR  - https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=16181
PB  - Audio Engineering Society
LA  - en
AB  - Auralisations with HRTFs are an innovative tool for the reproduction of acoustic space. Their broad applicability depends on the use of non-individualised models, but little is known on how humans adapt to these sounds. Previous findings have shown that simple exposure to non-individualised virtual sounds did not provide a quick adaptation, but that training and feedback would boost this process. Here, we were interested in analyzing the long-term effect of such training-based adaptation. We trained listeners in azimuth and elevation discrimination in two separate experiments and retested them immediately, one hour, one day, one week and one month after. Results revealed that, with active learning and feedback, all participants lowered their localization errors. This benefit was still found one month after training. Interestingly, participants who had trained previously with elevations were better in azimuth localization and vice-versa. Our findings suggest that humans adapt easily to new anatomically shaped spectral cues and they are able to transfer that adaptation to non-trained sounds.
ER  -