SPEECH PATTERN RECOGNITION IN ELECTRIC HEARING

尽管多通道人工耳蜗植入术取得了巨大的成功，但 是患者之间的广泛表现。了解原因 人工耳蜗使用者的言语表现仍有很高的变异性 电子听力面临的最大挑战之一。目前的研究是 旨在了解影响个人健康的因素 性能以及通过修改 语音处理器参数。这项研究的假设是 电听力中的言语知觉主要是基于 电诱发周围神经放电的相似性 模式和中央语音模式模板。我们进一步假设 中央语音模式模板可以在一定程度上适应 基于对新的外周神经模式的经验。两个基本原则 电子听力中的语音模式识别的各个方面在 这项提议。第一个实验的目的将是研究 周围神经模式受语音处理器参数的影响。 周围神经模式与中枢模式的匹配 模板将从语音性能中推断出来。元音的识别 辅音将在没有任何训练期的情况下进行测量。这个 三个关键语音处理器参数的交互作用：数字 电极的频率区域的分配，以及 将对电极的刺激方式和位置进行研究。这个 第二个实验旨在了解中枢语言模式是如何 模板根据对新的周围神经模式的经验而改变 说话的声音。具有显著不同的实验语音处理器 语音的外周神经模式将在 受试者的可穿戴语音处理器。言语表现作为以下因素的函数 与实验1中相同的语音处理器参数将是 随着时间的推移而衡量。这项研究的结果可能表明，在多大程度上 中央语音模式模板可以改变，以及需要多长时间。我们 我相信从这项提议中获得的结果可以提高语言能力 个人人工耳蜗者通过修改以下各项的表现 语音处理器参数，导致更好的听觉设计 假体，并提高了对语音模式识别的理解 包括声学和电学听力。

Although multichannel cochlear implants have achieved great success, there is a wide range of performance across patients. Understanding the cause of high variability of speech performance in cochlear implant users is still one of the biggest challenges in electric hearing. The present studies are aimed at understanding the factors that contribute to individual performance and at improving performance through modifications to the speech processor parameters. The hypothesis of this research is that speech perception in electric hearing is primarily based on a measure of similarity between the electrically-evoked peripheral neural discharge patterns and the central speech pattern templates. We further hypothesize that the central speech pattern templates can accommodate to some degree based on experience with new peripheral neural patterns. Two fundamental aspects of speech pattern recognition in electric hearing are addressed in this proposal. The aim of the first experiment will be investigate how the peripheral neural patterns are affected by speech processor parameters. The match between the peripheral neural patterns and the central pattern templates will be inferred from speech performance. Recognition of vowels and consonants will be measured without any training period. The interactive efforts of three critical speech processor parameters: number of electrodes, the allocation of frequency regions to electrodes, and the stimulation mode and location of electrodes, will be investigated. The second experiment is aimed at understanding how the central speech pattern templates are altered by experience with new peripheral neural patterns of speech sounds. Experimental speech processors with significantly different peripheral neural patterns of speech sounds will be implemented in the subject's wearable speech processor. Speech performance as a function of the same speech processor parameters as those in Experiment 1 will be measured over time. Results from this study may indicate how far the central speech pattern templates can be altered and how long it takes. We believe that the results obtained from this proposal could improve speech performance of individual cochlear implant users through modifications to the speech processor parameters, lead to better designs of auditory prostheses, and improve understanding of speech pattern recognition in both acoustic and electric hearing.