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Monaural Cue

A monaural cue for sound localization is generated by the unique way the pinna (the external part of the ear) interacts with sound waves based on their origin. This interaction provides crucial information for determining a sound's location on the vertical axis (above or below) and the horizontal axis (in front or behind). These single-ear cues are particularly vital for localizing sounds that originate directly in front, behind, above, or below the listener, as in these cases, the sound waves reaching both ears are identical, rendering two-eared (binaural) cues ineffective.

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Updated 2026-04-29

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