Interaction of interaural cues and their contribution to the lateralisation of Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)

Abstract

The main sound localisation cues in the horizontal plane are interaural time and level differences (ITDs and ILDs, respectively). ITDs are thought to be the dominant cue in the low-frequency range, ILDs the dominant cue in the high-frequency range. ITDs and ILDs co-occur. Their interaction and contribution to the lateralisation of pure tones by Mongolian gerbils was investigated behaviourally using cross-talk cancellation techniques for presenting ITDs and ILDs independently. First, ITDs were applied to pure tones with frequencies ≤ 2 kHz to the ongoing waveform, at the onsets and offsets, or in both the ongoing waveform and at the onsets and offsets. Gerbils could lateralise tones only if ongoing ITDs were present indicating that ongoing ITDs are decisive for the lateralisation of low-frequency tones. Second, an ITD was added to 2-to-6-kHz tones with varying ILD. Gerbils' lateralisation was unaffected by the ITD indicating that a large ILD provides a strong lateralisation cue at those frequencies. Finally, small ILDs were applied to 2-kHz tones with an ongoing ITD, pointing either to the same or opposing sides as the ITD. Gerbils' lateralisation was driven by the ITD but strongly affected by the ILD indicating that both interaural cues contribute to the lateralisation.

Keywords: Behaviour; Binaural hearing; Cues in opposition; Interaural level difference; Interaural time difference.