The effect of eye position on the orientation of sound lateralization

CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that sound lateralization sensitivity during interaural time difference (ITD) discrimination is altered by eccentric gaze and that sound lateralization shifts toward the direction of the gaze. OBJECTIVE: Using dichotic sounds, the effect of eye position on the orientation of sound lateralization was investigated in humans. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The subjects were studied by testing ITD discrimination under different conditions of visual fixation. RESULTS: The amplitudes obtained during the ITD discrimination tests during eccentric fixation were significantly greater than those obtained while gazing straight ahead (p<0.05). The median line of amplitude obtained during the ITD discrimination test shifted toward the direction of the gaze.