Environmental sound research today: Perception, cognition, applications

Environmental sounds, defined as semantically rich acoustic signals different from speech or music, are ubiquitous in daily living. Environmental sound research in various forms has been long embedded into many areas of acoustics including noise control, bioacoustics, music, signal processing, speech communication, and psychoacoustics. However, environmental sounds have been typically investigated in the limited context of specific lines of inquiry unique to each of these areas. In this fractured research landscape, there is also a growing body of work which focuses on ecological aspects and elucidates the neurobiological bases of environmental sound perception and cognition. We will review main questions addressed in recent work, including existing theoretical and methodological challenges and opportunities, and suggest directions for developing a more comprehensive framework for future environmental sound research and applications. A better understanding of environmental sound perception and cognition can in turn have practical implications for many diverse areas of acoustics and related fields.