Auditory and Visual Sensations

ISBN-13: 9781441901712 / Angielski / Twarda / 2009 / 344 str.

Yoichi Ando

Opis

The subject of the book is the grounding of architectural acoustics in psychophysics (perception, listener preferences) and neuroscience (auditory function, neural correlates of perception and preference). This is the first rational-scientific approach to designing performance spaces that is based on systematic psychoacoustical observations of spatial hearing and listener preferences. Observations of the neuronal correlates of auditory qualities and listener preferences ground the theory of listener preferences in the neurophysiology of the human brain. A correlation-based model of neuronal signal processing in the central auditory system is proposed. Observed psychological and neurophysiological commonalities between auditory and visual sensations and preference patterns are presented and discussed. This book thus spans the disciplines of physics, acoustics, psychology, neurophysiology, and music production, thereby blending science and art. Temporal and spatial sensations. Temporal auditory sensations include auditory qualities such as pitch, timbre, loudness, and duration, which are modeled using features extracted from the temporal autocorrelation function (ACF) of the sound. Neuronal responses related to these qualities are mainly associated with left hemisphere auditory regions of cerebral cortex. Spatial auditory sensations include the perceived direction of sound, its apparent size (apparent source width, ASW) and its subjective diffuseness deeply related to envelopment. These spatial aspects of sound perception are extracted from the interaural crosscorrelation function (IACF), which takes into account the differences in the sounds that reach the two ears. Cortical neuronal responses related to spatial hearing are mainly associated with auditory regions in the right hemisphere. Thus, the "primary sensation" evoked by a sound in some space can be divided into two categories: temporal sensations and spatial sensations. Any other subjective responses of the source sound signal and the sound field can be described in terms of temporal and spatial factors. Part I of the book describes experimental results from basic research in acoustics, psychoacoustics, the psychology of auditory preferences, and auditory neurophysiology. Applications include optimal design of concert hall and opera house acoustics, architectural acoustics of speech intelligibility and musical expression, as well as the perception of noise and its annoyance. In Part II, temporal and spatial sensations in vision are described in terms of similar kinds of correlation-based representations. A seamless, general theory can be established for temporal and spatial aspects of vision that includes subjective preferences for visual environments. Many audio-visual analogies are drawn. A typical temporal sensation of vision is the "pitch" of a flickering light, for which the missing fundamental is perceived in a manner highly analogous to its acoustic counterpart. Visual spatial sensations include contrast, regularity and coarseness. A spatial "vibrato" in a drawing is demonstrated as an application of the theory in the visual arts. The reader is given a highly fleshed out strategy for architectural acoustical design that is grounded both in psychology and neuroscience. Few other works are as ambitious in attempting to understand and explain such a wide range of perceptual phenomena. This human-centered design approach can be applied to any design practice in which the goal is to optimize the experience of the design product by its users. The proposed theory shows how a unified science of human perceptual experience and preference might be both possible and useful.

Recenzje

From the reviews:

"The book has two parts with sixteen chapters. ... The book is well structured and chapters are held short in length just to point out the most relevant information needed. ... At the end of the book, a list of abbreviations is presented, which is very useful for the reader, but most advantageous, is that for all abbreviations, a chapter in the book is referred. ... It provides equations and summaries of concepts for experts working in the field of concern." (Reinhard O. Neubauer, International Journal of Acoustics and Vibration, Vol. 16 (3), 2011)

"This is well-written and illustrated, unusual, and important book. ... In addition to a good index and definitions of terms, excellent references are given. ... This book presents a good start and much important progress." (David Lloyd (ben Yaacov Yehuda) Klepper, Noise Control Engineering Journal, Vol. 60 (2), March-April, 2012)

Spis treści

I Temporal and Spatial Sensations in the human auditory system.- Temporal and Spatial Aspects of Sounds and Sound Fields.- Subjective Preferences for Sound Fields.- Electrical and Magnetic Responses in the Central Auditory System.- Model of Temporal and Spatial Factors in the Central Auditory System.- Temporal Sensations of the Sound Signal.- Spatial Sensations of Binaural Signals.- Applications (I) – Music and Concert Hall Acoustics.- Applications (II) – Speech Reception in Sound Fields.- Applications (III) – Noise Measurement.- Applications (IV) – Noise Annoyance.- II Temporal and Spatial Sensations in the Human Visual System.- to Visual Sensations.- Temporal and Spatial Sensations in Vision.- Subjective Preferences in Vision.- EEG and MEG Correlates of Visual Subjective Preferences.- Summary of Auditory and Visual Sensations.

O autorze

Yoichi Ando is an expert in the areas of concert hall acoustics architectural acoustics, brain activities, and environmental design. He has been awarded the AIA Institute Honor, American Institute of Architects in 1995: For 30 years of work developing and applying new theories of concert hall acoustics have helped the way music is heard. A scientist, author, and educator, his achievements are a benefit to both the world of architecture and the world of music. He has also been awarded the "Laurea Honoris Causa" (Dottore ad Honorem) by University of Ferrara, Italy on 12 June 2002, and serves as Editor-In-Chief, of the Journal of Temporal Design in Architecture and the Environment.

Peter Cariani works in the fields of auditory neurophysiology; temporal coding of pitch, timbre, and consonance; neural networks for temporal processing; music perception and cognition.

Blurb

Professor Yoichi Ando, acoustic architectural designer of the Kirishima International Concert Hall in Japan, presents a comprehensive rational-scientific approach to designing performance spaces. His theory is based on systematic psychoacoustical observations of spatial hearing and listener preferences, whose neuronal correlates are observed in the neurophysiology of the human brain. A correlation-based model of neuronal signal processing in the central auditory system is proposed in which temporal sensations (pitch, timbre, loudness, duration) are represented by an internal autocorrelation representation, and spatial sensations (sound location, size, diffuseness related to envelopment) are represented by an internal interaural crosscorrelation function. Together these two internal central auditory representations account for the basic auditory qualities that are relevant for listening to music and speech in indoor performance spaces. Observed psychological and neurophysiological commonalities between auditory and visual sensations and preference patterns are presented and discussed. This book thus spans the disciplines of physics, acoustics, psychology, neurophysiology, and music production, thereby blending science, engineering, and art.