COCHLEAR MECHANICS, WAVE PROPAGATION, AND COMPRESSION

项目摘要/摘要 耳蜗力学、波传播和压缩 拟议的项目继续了一项研究计划，该计划正在提高我们对耳蜗的知识 通过对外围基本过程的理论和经验研究相结合来发挥作用 同时具有基本含义和翻译含义的听觉系统。第一个目标是解决一个理论问题。 关于耳蜗力学中的功率放大问题。它提出了一种放大机制，在四个 人工耳蜗室模型，并与实验观察结果进行一致性检验。这个目标考验着 支持假想的耳蜗放大器存在的证据。第二个目标是进一步 一种测量宽耳诱发的内耳声发射的方法 频带噪声刺激。对这些耳蜗反射率测量的信号处理和统计分析将 提高他们对听力损失的敏感度，提高他们预测听力阈值的准确性。这个 本项目的其余两个目标都使用了耳蜗处理模拟，这是基于现有的 耳蜗力学的非线性模型。通过计算建模和行为学的结合 测量这些目标将研究两种知觉现象：辅音识别和响度 成长。这两个目标都将检验耳蜗加工产生光谱-时间特征的假设 这些特征比直接从声学信号获得的特征更接近观察到的感知。通过努力 与所有四个目标相关的，既具有基本的科学兴趣，又具有临床应用意义的问题将 通过综合应用测量和建模工作来解决。

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT COCHLEAR MECHANICS, WAVE PROPAGATION, AND COMPRESSION The proposed project continues a program of research that is improving our knowledge of cochlear function through a combination of theoretical and empirical studies of fundamental processes in the peripheral auditory system that have both basic and translational implications. The first aim addresses a theoretical issue concerning power amplification in cochlear mechanics. It posits a mechanism for amplification in a four- chamber cochlear model and investigates consistency with experimental observations. This aim tests supporting evidence for the existence of a hypothetical cochlear amplifier. The second aim focuses on further development of a method for measurement of acoustic emissions from the inner ear that are evoked by wide- band noise stimuli. Signal processing and statistical analysis of these cochlear-reflectance measurements will improve their sensitivity to hearing loss and improve the accuracy of their prediction of hearing threshold. The remaining two aims of this project both utilize a cochlear-processing simulation, which is based on an existing nonlinear model of cochlear mechanics. Through a combination of computational modeling and behavioral measurements these aims will investigate two perceptual phenomena: consonant recognition and loudness growth. These aims will both test the hypothesis that cochlear processing produces spectro-temporal features that are closer to observed perception than features derived directly from the acoustic signal. Through efforts related to all four aims, questions that possess both basic scientific interest and applied clinical relevance will be addressed by combined application of measurement and modeling efforts.