Influences of the Efferent System on Human Auditory Function

项目总结/摘要 虽然目前的听力设备可以改善安静环境下的听力，但对改善言语能力几乎没有帮助 在嘈杂的背景下理解。这项研究计划的长期目标是充分了解 听觉感知和负责适应当地的生理机制之间的关系 音景这个特殊应用的目的是了解内侧橄榄耳蜗的作用， (MOC)感知波动声音的反射和正常听力中噪声中的言语表现 和听力受损的听众使用感知、电生理和听觉建模技术。的 拟议研究的中心假设是耳蜗听力损失限制了MOC反射的能力， 调节耳蜗增益，从而阻止与反射相关的假定感知和神经益处。 建议研究的基本原理是，详细描述MOC反射对 人类听觉功能有可能转化为更好地理解为什么听力设备提供 对改善听力受损成年人在噪声中的言语表现几乎没有好处。该详细描述将 通过完成以下具体目标来实现：1）确定MOC反射在检测中的作用 时间波动和噪声中语音音节的识别; 2）确定诱导的效果 耳蜗和非耳蜗受试者同侧复合动作电位（CAP）的MOC反射 听力损失; 3）模拟MOC反射对听力功能的影响， 耳蜗性听力损失这种方法是创新的，因为它联系了正常和受损的经验发现 感知和电生理学的定量理论框架，使用计算听觉模型。 拟议的研究是重要的，因为它预计将导致1）明确了解的作用， 听觉系统正常和受损的人的MOC反射，2）评估的有效程序 MOC反射对听觉功能的影响，3）MOC启发的新信号处理算法， 听力设备，以及4）通过提供改善的听力受损个体的生活质量 与家人、朋友和同事的沟通。为达致这项申请的研究目的， 主要研究者（PI）设计了一个职业发展计划，以获得言语感知方面的专业知识 和电生理学方法，并加深在计算听觉建模的专业知识。培训这些 将通过与高级科学家的频繁沟通和计划的指导活动来获得这些领域， PI的指导/咨询团队。该培训将为PI提供成为独立的 调查员，并为研究生产力的职业生涯做好准备。

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Although current hearing devices improve listening in quiet environments, they do little to improve speech understanding in noisy backgrounds. The long-term goal of this research program is to fully understand the relationship between auditory perception and physiological mechanisms responsible for adapting to the local soundscape. The objective of this particular application is to understand the role of the medial olivocochlear (MOC) reflex in the perception of fluctuating sounds and on speech-in-noise performance in normal hearing and hearing impaired listeners using perceptual, electrophysiological, and auditory modeling techniques. The central hypothesis of the proposed research is that cochlear hearing loss limits the ability of the MOC reflex to regulate cochlear gain, thus preventing the putative perceptual and neural benefits associated with the reflex. The rationale of the proposed research is that a detailed description of the influence of the MOC reflex on human auditory function has the potential to translate to a better understanding of why hearing devices provide little benefit to improving speech-in-noise performance in hearing impaired adults. This detailed description will be obtained by completing the following specific aims: 1) Determine the role of the MOC reflex in the detection of temporal fluctuations and the identification of speech syllables in noise; 2) Determine the effect of eliciting the ipsilateral MOC reflex on the compound action potential (CAP) in human subjects with and without cochlear hearing loss; and 3) Simulate the influence of the MOC reflex on auditory function in listeners with and without cochlear hearing loss. This approach is innovative because it links empirical findings from normal and impaired perception and electrophysiology to a quantitative theoretical framework using a computational auditory model. The proposed research is significant because it is expected to lead to 1) a clear understanding of the role of the MOC reflex in humans with normal and impaired auditory systems, 2) effective procedures for evaluating the influence of the MOC reflex on auditory function, 3) novel MOC-inspired signal processing algorithms for hearing devices, and 4) a better quality of life for hearing impaired individuals by providing improved communication with family, friends, and co-workers. To achieve the research objectives of this application, the principal investigator (PI) has designed a career development plan to acquire expertise in speech perception and electrophysiological methods, and deepen expertise in computational auditory modeling. Training in these areas will be obtained by frequent communication and planned mentoring activities with senior scientists in the PI's mentoring/advising team. This training will provide the PI with the skills needed to become an independent investigator, and prepare for a career of research productivity.