Higher auditory centre determines:

Sound localization Sound localization in horizontal plane depends on 2 things: 1. the time lag between the entry of sound into one ear and its entry into the opposite ear, and 2.difference in intensities between the sound in the two ears The detectable time difference is said to be the most impoant factor at frequencies below 3000 Hz and the loudness difference more impoant for frequencies above 3000 Hz. Sounds coming from directly in front of the individual and the back of the individual cannot be differentiated by the above two mechanisms. Here shape of the pinna plays role, it changes the quality of the sound depending on the direction from which sound comes.