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

耳内实时听觉感觉修改作为人类声音处理基础研究的工具

• 批准号: 365345-2009
• 负责人: Schoenwiesner, Marc
• 金额: $ 1.89万
• 依托单位: Université de Montréal
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2014-01-01 至 2015-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=549991
• 关键词: Intra; ear; real; time; auditory

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.

这项技术现在可以使用复杂的微型信号处理设备在通过人类耳朵的过程中实时修改声音，这些设备可以戴在耳道内。拟议中的研究路线的中心思想是使用这种“数字耳塞”来有选择地操纵人类不同方面的声学信息，并使用先进的人脑成像和行为测试来研究听觉皮质区域布局的变化。数字耳塞是由硅胶耳塞制成的，这些硅胶耳塞被模压到人的耳道上，创造出完美的声学密封，阻断自然的声音路径。在插头中有一个强大的微型信号处理器，连接到插头外表面的微型麦克风和插头内侧指向鼓膜的微型扬声器。因此，声音通过耳朵的自然路径可以被完全在实验控制下的电子路径所取代。耳内实时声音处理是一种概念上简单而强大的技术，可以诱导人类耳朵的感觉输入发生生态上有效和可控的变化。我们的目标是更深入地从理论上理解人类的感觉体验如何塑造大脑皮质功能的原理，以及这些过程如何受到动机和注意力的影响。我们将使用听觉空间处理作为实验模型。我们定位声源的能力依赖于复杂的神经计算，这些计算将微小的声学线索转化为外部位置的表示。视觉系统在教听觉系统如何翻译线索方面起着重要作用。视觉引导的听觉可塑性是高度可量化的，它展示了学习和可塑性变化的机制和原则，可能在整个中枢神经系统中广泛使用。