An Adjacency Effect in Auditory Distance and Loudness Judgments

This study investigated whether the adjacency principle. demonstrated in a perceived visual space, can be applied to auditory space. In order to demonstrate an auditory adjacency principle, multiple sound sources were varied in direction and distance in an acoustically absorbant space. Specifically, a NEAR sound source was located 10° to the left of the listener's midline at a distance of 2 meters; a FAR sound source was located 10° to the right at a distance of 5 meters. These sources served as perceptual reference points with respect to the localization of three test sounds, all at a distance of 3 meters. Two of three test sounds were directionally closer to the NEAR and FAR reference sounds, respectively. The other was between the reference sources directionally. The listener was asked to judge the perceived distances and the loudness of the three test sounds and the two reference sounds. The results indicated that the apparent distances of the test sounds were most determined by the disparity of distance between each test sound and the reference sound most directionally adjacent to it. Therefore, the findings offer evidence that the adjacency principle can be applied to the auditory space.