What two physiological cues are precisely mimicked by binaural audio signals?

Answer

Interaural Time Difference (ITD) and Interaural Level Difference (ILD)

Binaural audio forms the scientific basis for spatial audio by striving to replicate the natural acoustic cues the human auditory system uses to locate sounds in the real world. The first critical cue is the Interaural Time Difference (ITD), which is the minuscule difference in the moment sound arrives at the left ear versus the right ear, caused by the sound wave traveling around the head. The second crucial cue is the Interaural Level Difference (ILD), which accounts for the physical obstruction of sound waves by the head, resulting in the sound being slightly quieter or attenuated in the ear furthest from the source. By delivering separate, precise signals to each headphone ear cup that mimic these ITD and ILD variations, binaural processing tricks the brain into perceiving a specific directionality relative to the head, even though only two channels are being used.

What two physiological cues are precisely mimicked by binaural audio signals?

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