Sound Localization

[Ready for Fall 2026]

Modified: 2026-07-29 2:04 PM CDST

• The two ears, working together, can detect the direction of a sound.
  • Many animals can move their outer ears and their heads in order to detect sound direction.
• Humans can only move their heads.
• Notice that the sounds most difficult to detect are those that come from directly in front or directly in back of you.
  • Why? Because the sound reaches your ears at the same time.
  • Have you ever looked for an ambulance in your rearview mirror, only to have it appear in front of you?
  • So, when we have trouble detecting sound direction, we cock our heads.
  • That moves our ears relative to the sound we are trying to detect, making it easier to determine where it is coming from.
• Where is sound coming from (video)