Stereoacusis

Stereoacusy (from the Greek words “stereo” - three-dimensional and “akusis” - hearing) is the ability of humans and some animals to perceive the direction from which sound is coming. This occurs due to the difference in the time of arrival of the sound wave to each ear, as well as differences in the volume and frequency spectrum of the signal received by each ear.

Thus, having two ears allows the brain to determine the spatial location of the sound source relative to the listener. This is important for orientation in the environment and localization of objects based on their sound signals. Stereoacusis is well developed in mammals, including humans, and plays a large role in the perception of soundscapes.