Distortion and adaptation in underwater sound localization.

Sounds should be localized at more medial positions under water than in air, because the values of the interaural temporal and intensity differences are reduced in water. Thirteen blindfolded divers were required to move a pointer towards the apparent location of a sound source under water, and they showed significant errors towards the median plane. In a second experiment, five divers were tested in air before and after underwater training at swimming towards a sound source. The search patterns of these divers showed systematic errors towards the median plane. A comparison of the first and second air tests showed some evidence of an aftereffect away from the median plane, discounting the most lateral angles (80 degrees left and right) where little effect would be expected. It is concluded that both a distortion of localization and some adaptation to the distortion occur under water.