Understanding how user actions influence spatial auditory perception is increasingly important for the development of interactive audio systems and auditory user interfaces. In particular, interactive experiences in which users dynamically manipulate apparent source width (ASW) may enhance immersion and engagement. Although ASW is known to be closely related to interaural cross-correlation (IACC), the perceptual effects of user-driven dynamic control of IACC remain largely underexplored. This study investigates how interactive manipulation of inter-channel cross-correlation affects the spatial perception of auditory images. White noise stimuli were presented via a stereo loudspeaker system, with horizontal IACC dynamically modulated in real time using input from either a motion capture system or a game controller. Participants were instructed to perform vertical or horizontal hand-spreading gestures (or corresponding joystick movements) to expand the auditory image while listening. After each trial, they provided subjective evaluations of the auditory image in terms of perceived shape, width, and localization. A quantitative analysis was conducted to examine the effects of interactivity, correlation control, and additional spatial cues on perceived source width and localization accuracy. A key finding is that combining vertical hand-spreading gestures with a reduction in horizontal IACC increased the perceived vertical extent of the auditory image.
Sawajiri et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
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