Let me listen to where you are: spatial dimension resources in audio stories can increase imagery, transportation, attention, and recall

Abstract

This study analyzes the influence of the audio spatial dimension on the listener’s cognitive processing. Participants listened to different audio stories with four sound verbal and nonverbal resources (dialogue; dialogue and sound effects; dialogue and sound filters; dialogue and sound shots) representing the space and perspective of the scene. They rated the stories concerning imagery, transportation, attention, and performed a cued recall test. The results showed that the audio stories with nonverbal sound resources achieved higher imagery and transportation levels than stories with verbal information. The stories with nonverbal resources, except sound effects, obtained the highest levels of attention and recall. These results reveal the crucial role of the spatial dimension in audio processing.