Binaural infrasound perception

例如，由于能量转换，越来越多的人暴露于次声。这可能会导致生活质量的显着下降，由于一系列的投诉（睡眠障碍，注意力障碍，不安，偏头痛）。一些研究表明，次声被听觉系统感知。次声如何被听觉系统处理仍然很不清楚。例如，尚不清楚从经典可听频率范围已知的双耳感知的概念在多大程度上可以转移到次声感知。对双耳处理的深入了解是非常有趣的，因为环境声音通常到达双耳，大脑必须从到达双耳的信号中形成统一的听觉。该项目的目标是通过实验和模型描述次声双耳感知的各个方面，以便将来能够更好地研究次声对人类的影响。在项目开始时，将在已建立的低失真复制系统的基础上开发一个双耳复制系统，该系统是为单声道次声复制设计的。在听力测试中，该双耳再现系统然后用于确定安静（没有背景噪声的次声）和掩蔽阈值（存在背景噪声的次声）中的阈值。它是测试，如果在经典的可听频率范围内的双耳处理的概念也是有效的次声频率范围。这些概念不仅包括通过双耳呈现（双耳整合）来改善感知，而且还包括听觉系统能够通过比较两个耳信号（双耳去掩蔽）来在存在噪声的情况下更好地检测目标信号。此外，还将研究听众是否也能感知到次声刺激的双耳节拍，这在经典的可听频率范围内，被视为特定双耳处理的进一步证据。在双耳节拍方面，除了听觉实验外，还通过脑电图（EEG）记录大脑的电反应。根据实验结果，将建立双耳次声感知模型。长期目标是利用该项目的研究结果，防止次声可能造成的健康损害，并充分说明次声源的排放。因此，研究结果对于一般的健康保护和具体的能源转型（热泵，风力涡轮机和其他技术设施的次声排放）都具有重要意义。

An increasing number of individuals are being exposed to infrasound, e.g. due to the energy transition. This can lead to a significant reduction in the quality of life due to a range of complaints (sleep disturbances, concentration disorders, restlessness, migraines). Several studies indicate that infrasound is perceived by the auditory system. How infrasound is processed by the auditory system is still largely unclear. For example, it is not yet clear to what extent the concepts of binaural perception known from the classical audible frequency range can be transferred to infrasound perception. Insights into binaural processing are of great interest because environmental sounds usually reach both ears and the brain has to form from the signals arriving at both ears a unified percept. The goal of the project is to describe aspects of binaural perception of infrasound experimentally and with models, so that in the future the effects of infrasound on humans can be better studied. At the beginning of the project, a binaural reproduction system will be developed on the basis of an already established low-distortion reproduction system, which is designed for monaural infrasound reproduction. In listening tests, this binaural reproduction system is then used to determine thresholds in quiet (infrasound without background noise) and masking thresholds (infrasound in the presence of background noise). It is tested if concepts for binaural processing in the classical audible frequency range are also valid in the infrasound frequency range. These concepts include not only an improvement of perception by binaural presentation (binaural integration) but also that the auditory system is able to better detect a target signal in the presence of a noise by comparing the two ear signals (binaural unmasking). In addition, it will be investigated whether listeners can also perceive binaural beats for infrasound stimuli, which, in the classical audible frequency range, are seen as further evidence for specific binaural processing. For the aspect of binaural beats, in addition to auditory experiments, the electrical response of the brain is recorded by electroencephalography (EEG). Based on the experimental results, models of binaural infrasound perception will be developed. The long-term goal is to use the findings of the project for the protection against possible health damages caused by infrasound and the adequate description of the emission of infrasound sources. The findings will thus be of importance both for health protection in general and specifically with regard to the energy transition (infrasound emissions from heat pumps, wind turbines, and other technical facilities).