Development of a selective adaptation design for determining the nature of free-field auditory localization aftereffects
J. Thompson
Department of Psychology, University of Ballarat, Wallinton, Australia
Existing psychophysical evidence supports the proposal that underlying neural mechanisms coding for sound localisation in the horizontal plane achieve fine discrimination through the summation and comparison of neural 'channels'. Using a system of automated data collection that measured and recorded the accuracy of subjects' ability to localise sound in the free-field, the present study developed and refined a selective adaptation design, which subsequently enabled recording of participants' change in localisation accuracy in pre- vs. post-adaptation trials. Additionally, through manipulation of the adapting stimulus, the present study was able to demonstrate that the adaptation aftereffects experienced by listeners were not consistent across differing adapting locations. The techniques devised in the present design refined those employed by previous researchers and have enabled a platform for further psychophysical research that may provide additional insight into the neural mechanisms that underlie human sound localisation.
Poster presented at Measuring Behavior 2000, 3rd International Conference on Methods and Techniques in Behavioral Research, 15-18 August 2000, Nijmegen, The Netherlands