Influences of the Efferent System on Human Auditory Function

项目摘要/摘要 虽然目前的听力设备改善了安静环境中的听力，但它们对提高言语能力几乎没有什么作用 在嘈杂的背景下理解。这项研究计划的长期目标是充分了解 听觉知觉与局部适应生理机制的关系 音景。这种特殊应用的目的是了解内侧橄榄耳蜗区的作用。 (MOC)感觉波动声音的反射和正常听力中的言语噪声表现 以及使用感知、电生理和听觉建模技术的听力受损的听众。这个 拟议研究的中心假设是，耳蜗性听力损失限制了MOC反射的能力 调节耳蜗增益，从而阻止与反射相关的假定的知觉和神经益处。 这项拟议研究的基本原理是，对MOC反射影响的详细描述 人类的听觉功能有可能转化为更好地理解为什么听力设备提供 对改善听力受损成年人在噪音中的言语表现几乎没有好处。此详细说明将 通过完成以下具体目标来获得：1)确定MOC反射在检测中的作用 时间起伏和噪声中语音音节的识别；2)决定引出的效果 有耳蜗者和无耳蜗者同侧MOC反射对复合动作电位的影响 3)模拟MOC反射对听者听功能的影响 耳蜗性听力损失。这种方法是创新的，因为它将正常和受损的经验结果联系在一起。 使用计算听觉模型将知觉和电生理学转化为定量的理论框架。 这项拟议的研究具有重要意义，因为它有望导致1)对 听觉系统正常和受损的人的MOC反射，2)有效的评估程序 MOC反射对听觉功能的影响，3)新的MOC启发的信号处理算法 听力设备，以及4)通过提供改善的听力受损个人的生活质量 与家人、朋友和同事交流。为了实现这一应用程序的研究目标， 首席调查员(PI)设计了一项职业发展计划，以获得言语感知方面的专业知识 和电生理方法，并加深在计算听觉建模方面的专业知识。在这些方面进行培训 区域将通过与资深科学家的频繁沟通和有计划的指导活动来获得 派的指导/顾问团队。这项培训将为PI提供成为独立员工所需的技能 研究人员，并为研究生产力的职业生涯做准备。

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Although current hearing devices improve listening in quiet environments, they do little to improve speech understanding in noisy backgrounds. The long-term goal of this research program is to fully understand the relationship between auditory perception and physiological mechanisms responsible for adapting to the local soundscape. The objective of this particular application is to understand the role of the medial olivocochlear (MOC) reflex in the perception of fluctuating sounds and on speech-in-noise performance in normal hearing and hearing impaired listeners using perceptual, electrophysiological, and auditory modeling techniques. The central hypothesis of the proposed research is that cochlear hearing loss limits the ability of the MOC reflex to regulate cochlear gain, thus preventing the putative perceptual and neural benefits associated with the reflex. The rationale of the proposed research is that a detailed description of the influence of the MOC reflex on human auditory function has the potential to translate to a better understanding of why hearing devices provide little benefit to improving speech-in-noise performance in hearing impaired adults. This detailed description will be obtained by completing the following specific aims: 1) Determine the role of the MOC reflex in the detection of temporal fluctuations and the identification of speech syllables in noise; 2) Determine the effect of eliciting the ipsilateral MOC reflex on the compound action potential (CAP) in human subjects with and without cochlear hearing loss; and 3) Simulate the influence of the MOC reflex on auditory function in listeners with and without cochlear hearing loss. This approach is innovative because it links empirical findings from normal and impaired perception and electrophysiology to a quantitative theoretical framework using a computational auditory model. The proposed research is significant because it is expected to lead to 1) a clear understanding of the role of the MOC reflex in humans with normal and impaired auditory systems, 2) effective procedures for evaluating the influence of the MOC reflex on auditory function, 3) novel MOC-inspired signal processing algorithms for hearing devices, and 4) a better quality of life for hearing impaired individuals by providing improved communication with family, friends, and co-workers. To achieve the research objectives of this application, the principal investigator (PI) has designed a career development plan to acquire expertise in speech perception and electrophysiological methods, and deepen expertise in computational auditory modeling. Training in these areas will be obtained by frequent communication and planned mentoring activities with senior scientists in the PI's mentoring/advising team. This training will provide the PI with the skills needed to become an independent investigator, and prepare for a career of research productivity.