COCHLEAR MECHANICS, WAVE PROPAGATION, AND COMPRESSION

项目总结/摘要 耳蜗力学、波传播和压缩 拟议中的项目继续进行一项研究计划，以提高我们对耳蜗的认识。 通过对周边基本过程的理论和实证研究相结合， 听觉系统，具有基本和翻译的影响。第一个目标解决了一个理论问题 关于耳蜗力学中的功率放大。它假设了一种放大机制，在一个四- 室耳蜗模型，并调查与实验观察的一致性。这一目标检验了 支持存在假设耳蜗放大器的证据。第二个目标是进一步 开发了一种用于测量由宽频带诱发的内耳声发射的方法， 带噪声刺激。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性，提高他们预测听阈的准确性。的 该项目的其余两个目标都利用耳蜗处理模拟，这是基于现有的 耳蜗力学的非线性模型通过结合计算建模和行为 测量这些目标将调查两个知觉现象：辅音识别和响度 增长这些目标都将测试耳蜗处理产生频谱-时间特征的假设 这些特征比直接从声学信号导出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，既具有基本科学兴趣又具有应用临床相关性的问题将 通过测量和建模工作的组合应用来解决。

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.