Perceptual feedback training for improving spatial acuity and resolving front-back confusion errors in virtual auditory environments

This paper aims to test the hypothesis that audiovisual perceptual feedback based training can improve the sound localization accuracy and the navigational skills in a virtual auditory display where 3D sounds are created using non-individualized HRTFs. In our experiment, we tested the spatial auditory localization performance of nine sighted subjects prior and consequently a series of training procedures based on audiovisual feedback. The results concluded that this cross-modal facilitation enhances spatial hearing, reduces the incidence of localization and front-back confusion errors and helps the users to navigate more accurately in the virtual auditory environments by improving their ability to detect 3D sound sources synthesized with non-individualized HRTFs.