SGER: Computational Models to study auditory processing and learning disorders in children

这个SGER（探索性研究小额资助），模拟学习障碍儿童的听觉处理及其相应的治疗，用计算模型建立、验证和实验人类大脑听觉神经系统对音频信号的处理。长期目标是将语音和听力科学家通过人类听觉系统实验获得的与声学处理流相关的知识捕获到计算模型中，短期目标包括：了解听觉处理系统的哪些部分应该包含在模型中，与语音和听力科学研究人员协商建立神经网络模型；通过对实验观测数据进行计算机模拟来验证模型。这种模型有望预测脑干对音频信号的反应，这些音频信号通过人耳进入耳蜗，在耳蜗中分成更精细的频谱成分，脉冲通过听神经和脑干中几个专门的核到达听觉皮层。事实上，音频信号在听觉皮层分裂成两个不同的“什么”和“在哪里”流，或者在通往它的路上，这激发了这项研究。虽然存在许多听觉系统的计算模型，但本研究的新颖之处在于在计算模型中包括腹侧和背侧流，并验证了在学习障碍儿童中观察到的听觉脑干反应模型。更广泛的影响：一个有效的模型为研究基于听觉缺陷的学习障碍儿童的拟议治疗方法的影响“打开了大门”。使用这种方法，计算机近似可以作为可能的治疗的快速和相对便宜的前兆。学生还将获得该领域的专业知识。智力优势：这项研究将扩展神经计算建模的学科，并有助于理解儿童学习障碍的原因，从而促进相应治疗的发展。

This SGER (Small Grants for Exploratory Research), modeling auditory processing in children with learning disabilities and its corresponding treatments, builds, validates, and experiments with computational models the processing of audio signals in the auditory nervous system of the human brain. With a long term goal for capturing into a computational model the knowledge related to the acoustic processing streams acquired by a speech and hearing scientist through experiments with the human auditory system, the short-term goals include:Understanding what portions of the auditory processing system ought to be included in the model, building a neural network model in consultation with researchers in speech and hearing sciences, and Validating the model by running computer simulations against experimentally observed data. Such a model is expected to predict brainstem responses to audio signals that come in via the human ear and partition into its finer spectral components in the cochlea from where the impulses travel via the auditory nerve and several specialized nuclei in the brainstem to the auditory cortex. The fact that the audio signals split into two distinct "what" and "where" streams in the auditory cortex or en-route to it motivates the research. Although many computational models of the auditory system exists, the novelty of the proposed research lies inIncluding the ventral and dorsal streams in the computational model and Validating the model against auditory brainstem responses observed in children with learning disorders.Broader Impact: A validated model "opens the door" to study the impact of proposed treatments for children with learning disabilities based on auditory deficiencies. Using this approach, computer approximations could serve as a fast and relative inexpensive precursor to possible treatments. Students will also gain expertise in the area.Intellectual Merit: This research will expand the discipline of neuro-computational modeling and should contribute in understanding the causes of learning disabilities in children, thus enabling development of the corresponding treatments.