Direction-dependent amplification of the human outer ear.

The transfer function of the outer ear in humans was determined by using the impulse technique. Signals were delivered from 325 or 393 positions on an imaginary sphere surrounding the experimental subject. Changes of sound pressure level in the ear canal show that certain frequency bands are amplified maximally if they impinge onto the ear from certain directions. For some frequency bands there are two directions of sound incidence that cause best amplification in the ear canal. The directionality of the human pinna appears to increase at higher frequencies. The amount of amplification by the outer ear of frequencies between 2 and 15 kHz was also determined by measuring the free-field transfer function.