A patient reports that while they can hear sounds clearly with both ears, they have great difficulty determining whether a sound is coming from their left or right side. An audiogram confirms their hearing sensitivity is normal in both ears. Based on this information, which cognitive process is most likely impaired, and what specific types of auditory information is the patient's brain failing to properly compare and interpret?

Auditory Localization Deficit

Specific areas within the brain are responsible for monitoring and interpreting interaural level and timing differences. By analyzing these binaural cues, the brain constructs a representation of where a sound originates along the horizontal axis.

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Binaural cues are auditory signals that use information from both ears to determine the location of a sound, particularly along the horizontal axis. These cues function by detecting the subtle differences in the vibration patterns that a sound wave creates at each eardrum when a sound originates from an off-center location.

Binaural Cue

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Which of the following best describes the role of binaural cues in sound localization?

There are two types of binaural cues:
1. Interaural Level Difference
2. Interaural Timing Difference 

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