Abstract
The most important acoustic cues available to the brain for sound localization are produced by the interaction of sound with the animal's head and external ears. As a first step in understanding the relation between these cues and their neural representation in a vocal new-world primate, we measured head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) across frequency for a wide range of sound locations in three anesthetized marmoset monkeys. The HRTF magnitude spectrum has a broad resonance peak at 6-12 kHz that coincides with the frequency range of the major call types of this species. A prominent first spectral notch (FN) in the HRTF magnitude above this resonance was observed at most source locations. The center frequency of the FN increased monotonically from ∼12 to 26 kHz with increases in elevation in the lateral field. In the frontal field FN frequency changed in a less orderly fashion with source position. From the HRTFs we derived interaural time (ITDs) and level differences (ILDs). ITDs and ILDs (below 12 kHz) varied as a function of azimuth between ±250 μs and ±20 dB, respectively. A reflexive orienting behavioral paradigm was used to confirm that marmosets can orient to sound sources.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 96-108 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | Hearing Research |
Volume | 260 |
Issue number | 1-2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 1 2010 |
Keywords
- (3-6) ITD
- HRTF
- ILD
- Marmoset behavior
- Sound localization
- Spectral notch
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Sensory Systems