Temporal Processing Properties of the Auditory System in Cochlear Implant Systems

项目描述：人工耳蜗使用者听觉系统的时间加工特性项目描述人工耳蜗（CIs）的主要挑战之一是CI患者的语言感知表现存在很大的差异。最近的研究表明，言语表现的这种可变性与CI患者的心理物理测量的时间处理之间存在显著的相关性。除了这些行为测量，神经反应对重复刺激的时间特性提供了听觉系统处理声音中时间线索的重要信息。目前尚不清楚客观测量的神经反应如何与时间处理和言语感知的行为测量相关联。本研究旨在探讨脑梗死患者的四种听觉诱发电位（aep）的时间特征：1)电复合动作电位（ECAP）， 2)电听觉脑干反应（EABR）， 3)电晚听诱发电位（ELAEP）和4)声学诱发电位（LAEP）。我们将比较CI使用者的时间处理和言语感知能力的神经生理和行为测量。我们假设与ECAP和EABR相比，LAEP的时间特性与行为测量的相关性更好。从理论上讲，本研究的结果将为CI患者言语理解的巨大变异性提供重要见解。实际上，拟议的研究将有助于确定适当的电生理措施，可用于客观评估CI的益处。这项研究可能会导致未来的努力，以提高声音在CI用户的时间表征。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Temporal processing properties of the auditory system in cochlear implant users Description of the Project One of the major challenges in cochlear implants (CIs) is the large variability in CI patients' speech perception performance. Recent studies have shown significant correlations between this variability in speech performance and CI patients' psychophysically measured temporal processing. Besides these behavioral measures, the temporal properties of neural responses to repeated stimuli provide important information about the auditory system's processing of temporal cues in sounds. It is unclear how objectively measured neural responses are related to behavioral measures of temporal processing and speech perception. The goal of this project is to investigate the temporal properties of four types of auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) in CI patients: 1) the electric compound action potential (ECAP), 2) the electric auditory brainstem response (EABR), 3) the electric late auditory evoked potential (ELAEP), and 4) the acoustic LAEP. We will compare neurophysiological and behavioral measures of temporal processing and speech perception abilities in CI users. We hypothesize that the temporal properties of the LAEP are better correlated to behavioral measures than those of the ECAP and the EABR. Theoretically, the results from the proposed study will provide important insights into the large variability in CI patients' speech understanding. Practically, the proposed research will help to identify appropriate electrophysiological measures that can be used to objectively assess CI benefits. This research may lead to future efforts toward improving the temporal representation of sounds in CI users. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This project examines how the auditory system of cochlear implant users processes information of sounds over time using electrophysiological and behavioral methods. It will provide important insights into why some patients receive greater benefits than others from implantation. It will also lead to the identification of the most promising electrophysiological tools that can be used to objectively measure outcomes of implantation or the efficacy of rehabilitation strategies.