Auditory and Visual Sensations

Ando establishes a theory of subjective preference of the sound field in a concert hall, based on preference theory with a model of human auditory-brain system. The model uses the autocorrelation function and the interaural crosscorrelation function for signals arriving at two ear entrances and considers the specialization of human cerebral hemispheres. The theory may be applied to describe primary sensations such as pitch or missing fundamental, loudness, timbre, and duration. These four primary sensations may be formulated by the temporal factors extracted from the autocorrelation function associated with left hemisphere. Spatial sensations such as localization in the horizontal plane, apparent source width, and subjective diffuseness are described by spatial factors extracted from the interaural crosscorrelation function associated with the right hemisphere. Any important subjective responses of sound fields may be described by use of both the temporal and spatial factors. The theory may also be applied to visual sensations as well as subjective preference of visual environments. Remarkable findings in activities in both auditory-brain and visual-brain systems in relation to subjective preference as a primitive response are described.

Yoichi Ando is an expert in the areas of concert hall acoustics architectural acoustics, brain activities, and environmental design. He has been awarded the AIA Institute Honor, American Institute of Architects in 1995: For 30 years of work developing and applying new theories of concert hall acoustics have helped the way music is heard. A scientist, author, and educator, his achievements are a benefit to both the world of architecture and the world of music. He has also been awarded the "Laurea Honoris Causa" (Dottore ad Honorem) by University of Ferrara, Italy on 12 June 2002, and serves as Editor-In-Chief, of the Journal of Temporal Design in Architecture and the Environment.

Peter Cariani works in the fields of auditory neurophysiology; temporal coding of pitch, timbre, and consonance; neural networks for temporal processing; music perception and cognition.