Effects of Active and Passive Movement upon Auditory Function during Prolonged Atypical Stimulation

Abstract

The ability to discriminate minute time differences between paired clicks presented to the two ears is significantly impaired if observers walk about during 1 hr. of exposure to dichotic white noise. Performance does not deteriorate if bodily movements are restricted. Comparison of active and passive movement conditions for both translation and rotation demonstrated that self-induced movement of the observer is necessary to produce this effect. These findings support the notion that active movement of the observer with its concurrent sensory feedback is essential for the maintenance of stable and effective perceptual-motor behavior or its alteration.