Binaural room simulation

Research in binaural and spatial hearing is of particular interest to the Air Force. Applications in cockpit communication, target recognition, and aircraft navigation are being explored. This thesis examines human auditory localization cues and develops a mathematical model for the transfer function of a sound signal traveling from an isotropic point source through a rectangular room to both ears of a listener. Using this model as a guide, non-head coupled binaural sound signals are generated in a binaural room simulation. Reflection and attenuation cues included in the computer generated signals are varied in order to determine which cues enhance the listener's degree of extracranialization. Results of this research indicate that the addition of three or more attenuated reflections into a non-head coupled binaural signal provide the listener with a binaural sound that is localized extracranially.