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

该技术现在可以使用可以佩戴在耳道内的复杂小型化信号处理设备来实时修改声音通过人耳的方式。这项研究的中心思想是使用这种“数字耳塞”来选择性地操纵人类声学信息的不同方面，并使用先进的人脑成像和行为测试来研究听觉皮层区域布局的变化。数字耳塞是由硅胶制成的耳塞，它与人的耳道紧密贴合，形成完美的隔音效果，阻断自然声音的传播。耳塞内有一个强大的微型信号处理器，连接到耳塞外表面的微型麦克风和耳塞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实验控制的电子路径所取代。耳内实时声音操纵是一种概念上简单而强大的技术，可以在人耳的感觉输入中诱导生态有效和受控的变化。我们的目标是获得更深入的理论理解的原则，支配感觉经验如何塑造人类皮层功能，以及这些过程是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，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的作用。视觉引导的听觉可塑性是高度可量化的，并展示了学习和可塑性变化的机制和原则，可广泛用于整个中枢神经系统。

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.