Learning to extract a large inter-aural level difference in lag clicks

Abstract

Many blind people learn to use sound reflections to localize objects. However, precedence-effect research has reported evidence both for and against the possibility to improve lateralization of lag clicks preceded by lead clicks. This training study used stimuli more relevant to human echolocation than did previous training studies. One participant, the author, practiced lateralizing a lag-click inter-aural level difference (ILD) of 10 dB for 60 days, with performance measured in the lag–lead peak amplitude ratio at threshold. Clear improvements were observed at interclick intervals of 2–18 ms, suggesting that extracting a large lag-click ILD may improve with practice.