A model framework for simulating spatial hearing of bilateral cochlear implant users
Bilateral cochlear implants (CIs) greatly improve spatial hearing acuity for CI users, but substantial gaps still exist compared to normal-hearing listeners. For example, CI users have poorer localization skills, little or no binaural unmasking, and reduced spatial release from masking. Multiple fac...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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EDP Sciences
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Acta Acustica |
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| Online Access: | https://acta-acustica.edpsciences.org/articles/aacus/full_html/2023/01/aacus230034/aacus230034.html |
| _version_ | 1797673822709612544 |
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| author | Hu Hongmei Ausili Sebastián A. Williges Ben Klug Jonas Felsheim Rebecca C. Vickers Deborah Dietz Mathias |
| author_facet | Hu Hongmei Ausili Sebastián A. Williges Ben Klug Jonas Felsheim Rebecca C. Vickers Deborah Dietz Mathias |
| author_sort | Hu Hongmei |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Bilateral cochlear implants (CIs) greatly improve spatial hearing acuity for CI users, but substantial gaps still exist compared to normal-hearing listeners. For example, CI users have poorer localization skills, little or no binaural unmasking, and reduced spatial release from masking. Multiple factors have been identified that limit binaural hearing with CIs. These include degradation of cues due to the various sound processing stages, the viability of the electrode-neuron interface, impaired brainstem neurons, and deterioration in connectivity between different cortical layers. To help quantify the relative importance and inter-relationship between these factors, computer models can and arguably should be employed. While models exploring single stages are often in good agreement with selected experimental data, their combination often does not yield a comprehensive and accurate simulation of perception. Here, we combine information from CI sound processing with computational auditory model stages in a modular and open-source framework, resembling an artificial bilateral CI user. The main stages are (a) binaural signal generation with optional head-related impulse response filtering, (b) generic CI sound processing not restricted to a specific manufacturer, (c) electrode-to-neuron transmission, (d) binaural interaction, and (e) a decision model. The function and the outputs of different model stages are demonstrated with examples of localization experiments. However, the model framework is not tailored to a specific dataset. It offers a selection of sound coding strategies and allows for third-party model extensions or substitutions; thus, it is possible to employ the model for a wide range of binaural applications and even for educational purposes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T21:50:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e68f0bacbf844ed2a7af31045e8d5404 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2681-4617 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T21:50:00Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | EDP Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Acustica |
| spelling | doaj.art-e68f0bacbf844ed2a7af31045e8d54042023-09-26T09:03:18ZengEDP SciencesActa Acustica2681-46172023-01-0174210.1051/aacus/2023036aacus230034A model framework for simulating spatial hearing of bilateral cochlear implant usersHu Hongmei0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6103-4760Ausili Sebastián A.1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5138-0988Williges Ben2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7476-1334Klug Jonas3Felsheim Rebecca C.4https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6082-8536Vickers Deborah5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7498-5637Dietz Mathias6https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1830-469XDepartment of Medical Physics and Acoustics, University of OldenburgDepartment of Otolaryngology, University of MiamiSOUND Lab, Cambridge Hearing Group, Clinical Neurosciences, University of CambridgeDepartment of Medical Physics and Acoustics, University of OldenburgDepartment of Medical Physics and Acoustics, University of OldenburgSOUND Lab, Cambridge Hearing Group, Clinical Neurosciences, University of CambridgeDepartment of Medical Physics and Acoustics, University of OldenburgBilateral cochlear implants (CIs) greatly improve spatial hearing acuity for CI users, but substantial gaps still exist compared to normal-hearing listeners. For example, CI users have poorer localization skills, little or no binaural unmasking, and reduced spatial release from masking. Multiple factors have been identified that limit binaural hearing with CIs. These include degradation of cues due to the various sound processing stages, the viability of the electrode-neuron interface, impaired brainstem neurons, and deterioration in connectivity between different cortical layers. To help quantify the relative importance and inter-relationship between these factors, computer models can and arguably should be employed. While models exploring single stages are often in good agreement with selected experimental data, their combination often does not yield a comprehensive and accurate simulation of perception. Here, we combine information from CI sound processing with computational auditory model stages in a modular and open-source framework, resembling an artificial bilateral CI user. The main stages are (a) binaural signal generation with optional head-related impulse response filtering, (b) generic CI sound processing not restricted to a specific manufacturer, (c) electrode-to-neuron transmission, (d) binaural interaction, and (e) a decision model. The function and the outputs of different model stages are demonstrated with examples of localization experiments. However, the model framework is not tailored to a specific dataset. It offers a selection of sound coding strategies and allows for third-party model extensions or substitutions; thus, it is possible to employ the model for a wide range of binaural applications and even for educational purposes.https://acta-acustica.edpsciences.org/articles/aacus/full_html/2023/01/aacus230034/aacus230034.htmlinteraural time differencesinteraural level differenceslateralizationlocalizationbilateral cochlear implantexcitation-inhibition neuron |
| spellingShingle | Hu Hongmei Ausili Sebastián A. Williges Ben Klug Jonas Felsheim Rebecca C. Vickers Deborah Dietz Mathias A model framework for simulating spatial hearing of bilateral cochlear implant users Acta Acustica interaural time differences interaural level differences lateralization localization bilateral cochlear implant excitation-inhibition neuron |
| title | A model framework for simulating spatial hearing of bilateral cochlear implant users |
| title_full | A model framework for simulating spatial hearing of bilateral cochlear implant users |
| title_fullStr | A model framework for simulating spatial hearing of bilateral cochlear implant users |
| title_full_unstemmed | A model framework for simulating spatial hearing of bilateral cochlear implant users |
| title_short | A model framework for simulating spatial hearing of bilateral cochlear implant users |
| title_sort | model framework for simulating spatial hearing of bilateral cochlear implant users |
| topic | interaural time differences interaural level differences lateralization localization bilateral cochlear implant excitation-inhibition neuron |
| url | https://acta-acustica.edpsciences.org/articles/aacus/full_html/2023/01/aacus230034/aacus230034.html |
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