Monaural localization following exposure to different segments of acoustic space

Four groups of eight monaural listeners received practice on locating sounds coming from different segments of the horizontal plane prior to a test in which all sounds originated within the same region. An additional eight monaural listeners were given the final localization test without the pretest practice. Knowledge of results was withheld. The main finding was that positive transfer of training was not equally apparent for all groups. That group for which the pretest and test involved the same ear and the same azimuthal positions of loudspeakers performed best. Practice in locating rearwardly positioned sounds did not benefit the localization of frontally positioned sounds even when the same ear was functioning in both situations. Experience in locating sounds from all segments of the horizontal plane appears to be required in order to build up an adequate internal representation of the acoustic surrounds.