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Sound localization is the ability to locate the source of sound, which is important for predators and prey. The process involves complex filtering and cognitive processes, and errors can cause confusion. Tricks can be used to manipulate sound localization, such as ventriloquism and distorted sound.
Sound localization is the ability to pinpoint the source and location of a sound, using input from the ears, as well as cognitive processes. Hearing animals are all capable of this to some extent, although some are better at it than others; owls, for example, have excellent sound tracking skills because they rely on sound to locate and track their prey. Errors in sound localization can cause disorientation and confusion.
When sound enters your ears, it goes through a complex filtering process. The ear can feed back to the brain about where sounds are coming from, as well as provide data on the volume and frequency of sound. The brain can process this information extremely quickly to provide input into what is happening in the surrounding environment. These reactions occur in fractions of a second, providing noise information in near real time. As animals develop, they also learn to distinguish fine details; humans, for example, learn to recognize language at an early age.
From an evolutionary perspective, sound localization has several advantages. Predators use sound, among other senses, to find their prey and rely on the ability to pin down locations precisely based on sound alone when other senses may not be available or may be compromised. Prey animals need an excellent sense of hearing and a keen sense of position and distance so they can avoid predators. A grazing horse, for example, can hear the sound of approaching feet, determine what kind of animal is approaching, and find out where the animal is coming from, all without looking up for visual information.
Neurologically, the processes involved in sound localization are very complex. People can experience a variety of problems along the way when trying to locate sounds. Losing hearing, even partially, in one ear can cause the brain’s calculations to blow, returning bad information. Similarly, errors in brain pathways can distort sensory information, and the brain can also scramble sound data during processing, returning bad information.
You can perform tricks with sound localization to create the illusion of sounds coming from a different or unusual location. Ventriloquism involves, for example, making people believe that a sound is coming from the mouth of a dummy rather than its conductor. Distorted sound designed to confuse and throw people off balance can be used in gambling halls, movie theaters, and even interrogation rooms, with the goal of making people feel shaky and jittery.
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