People can tell if a sound is coming from their right or left, by the small delay of the sound reaching their ears. How do people recognise if a sound comes from above or below?

Question

People can tell if a sound is coming from their right or left, by the small delay of the sound reaching their ears. How do people recognise if a sound comes from above or below?

In: 222

Answer 1

The shape of our ears makes sound coming from different directions sounds different, and fun fact if you record sounds [with a mic shaped like a pair of ears](https://www.raycom.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/3Dio-Free-Space-Binaural-Microphone-Side-angle.jpg) then listen to it with headphones the sound actually sounds 3D!

This is called binaural recording, there are lots of examples on YouTube (not “binaural beats” though!)