Suppose you get a new ear piercing that dramatically changes the shape of your pinna and causes you to have trouble localizing sounds. From which direction will you have the hardest time localizing sounds, and why?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The pinna plays a crucial role in helping us localize sounds vertically (above, below, in front, behind) by altering the sound waves that reach the eardrum, a process described by the head-related transfer function (HRTF) or direction transfer function. Changes in the shape of the pinna can disrupt this process, making it particularly difficult to localize sounds from above.

Suppose You Get a New Ear Piercing That Dramatically Changes