soundturn

Soundturn refers to a phenomenon where a sound's perceived direction of origin shifts over time. This can occur for a variety of reasons, including changes in the environment, the movement of the sound source, or the movement of the listener. For instance, if a person is walking towards a speaker, the sound will appear to come from the speaker's initial position and then gradually shift forward as the listener gets closer. Similarly, if a car honks its horn while driving past, the sound will initially seem to be in front of the listener, then move to the side, and finally appear to be behind them as the car recedes.

Environmental factors can also contribute to soundturn. Reflections of sound waves off surfaces can create echoes or reverberations. If these reflected sounds arrive at the listener's ears with a slight delay and from a different direction than the direct sound, it can create the impression that the sound source is moving or has shifted its position. This is particularly noticeable in large, open spaces or rooms with many hard surfaces.

The phenomenon of soundturn is relevant in fields such as acoustics, audio engineering, and psychoacoustics. Understanding how sound directionality changes is crucial for designing immersive audio experiences, such as those found in virtual reality or cinema, and for accurately locating sound sources in real-world applications like surveillance or robotics. The brain's interpretation of auditory cues, including interaural time differences and interaural level differences, plays a significant role in how soundturn is perceived.