Intra-ear real time auditory sensory modification as a tool for basic research into human sound processing

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The technology is now available to modify sounds in realtime on their way through the human ear using sophisticated miniaturized signal processing devices that can be worn inside the ear canal. The central idea of the proposed line of research is to use such "digital ear plugs" to selectively manipulate different aspects of the acoustic information in humans, and to use advanced human brain imaging and behavioral testing to study changes in the layout of auditory cortical fields. Digital ear plugs are made of silicone plugs that are molded to a person's ear canal to create a perfect acoustic seal that blocks the natural sound path. In the plug is a powerful miniature signal processor connected to a miniature microphone on the outer surface of the plug and a miniature loudspeaker on the inner side of the plug that points towards the eardrum. The natural path of the sound through the ear can thus be replaced by an electronic path that is under complete experimental control. Intra-ear realtime sound manipulation is a conceptually simple and powerful technique to induce ecologically valid and controlled changes in the sensory input to the human ear. Our goal is to gain a deeper theoretical understanding of the principles that govern how sensory experience shapes cortical function in humans, and how these processes are influenced by motivation and attention. We will use auditory spatial processing as an experimental model. Our ability to localize a sound source relies on complex neural computations that translate tiny acoustic cues into representations of an external location. The visual system plays an important role in teaching the auditory system how to translate the cues. Visually guided auditory plasticity is highly quantifiable and demonstrates mechanisms and principles of learning and plastic change that may be used widely throughout the central nervous system.