Discrimination of interaural differences of level as a function of frequency.

Discrimination of interaural differences of level (IDLs) was measured for pure tones as a function of frequency and as a function of the interaural difference of phase or level of a standard. Varying the interaural difference of the standard was assumed to change the lateral position of its intracranial image. Threshold IDLs were approximately constant over a frequency range from 200-5000 Hz, except in a region near 1000 Hz where they were slightly elevated. Thresholds increased as the value of the standard interaural differences of phase or level increased, implying that interaural resolution declines as the lateral image moves away from midline. The results are generally consistent with the predictions of current models of lateralization, but additions to these models are required in order for them to account for the slight frequency dependence of threshold IDLs.