Speech Pattern Recognition in Electric Hearing

本研究的长期目标是了解电刺激听觉系统语音识别的机制，并进一步了解听觉皮层的可塑性。本提案将解决电听力中语音感知的三个基本问题：1)语音处理器参数变化如何影响电诱发的外周神经模式？2)新的外周神经模式如何重塑中枢语音模式模板？3)人工耳蜗患者言语表现差异大的原因是什么？本研究的假设是，电听觉中的语音识别主要基于电诱发的周围神经模式和中枢语音模式模板之间的相似性测量。根据患者使用植入设备的经验，中枢语音模式模板可以在一定程度上适应新的外围模式。我们进一步假设，听觉分辨能力的缺陷会显著降低人工耳蜗使用者的语音模式识别能力。本研究不仅对理解电刺激下语音模式识别的机制具有理论意义，而且对为人工耳蜗听者设计合适的语音处理器和临床适配系统具有重要的临床意义。从这些建议中衍生出的原理，如听觉分辨和言语表现之间的关系，也可能有助于理解听障患者的感知问题。

The long-term goal of this research is to understand the mechanisms involved in speech recognition by the electrically stimulated auditory system, and further, the plasticity of the auditory cortex. The present proposal will address three fundamental questions of speech perception in electric hearing: 1) How are the electrically evoked peripheral neural patterns affected by parametric variations of the speech processor? 2) Ho are the central speech pattern templates reshaped by new peripheral neural patterns? 3) What are the causes of the high variability in speech performance among cochlear implants patients? The hypothesis of this research is that speech recognition in electric hearing is primarily based on a similarity measure between electrically evoked peripheral neural patterns and central speech pattern templates. Based on patients' experience with the implant device, central speech pattern templates can accommodate new peripheral patterns, to some degree. We further hypothesize that a deficit in auditory resolution can remarkably reduce cochlear implant users' capabilities in speech pattern recognition. The significance of this research is not only of theoretical interest in understanding the mechanism involved in speech pattern recognition by electrical stimulation, but also of great clinical importance in designing appropriate speech processors and clinical fitting systems for cochlear implant listeners. It is also possible that principles derived from the present proposals, such as the relation between auditory resolution and speech performance, , are useful to understand the perception problem in hearing-impaired patients.