Spectral Cues for Sound Localization

声音定位的频谱提示

• 批准号: 7069016
• 负责人: BRADFORD J MAY
• 金额: $ 32.69万
• 依托单位: JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 1990
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1990-12-01 至 2009-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/7069016
• 关键词: auditory stimulus; behavioral /social science research tag; cats; cues; electrophysiology; electrostimulus; inferior colliculus; neural information processing; neuropsychology; neuroregulation; olivocochlear bundle; psychophysiology; sound perception

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The broad objective of this project is to describe the brain's specializations for sound localization. The initial specific aim of the present application is to evaluate the ascending afferent representation of spectrum-based localization cues that are generated by directional properties of the head and outer ear. These filtering effects are known as the head-related transfer function (HRTF). It is hypothesized that this complex acoustic information is encoded by the discharge rates of a select population of inferior colliculus neurons, the type O units. Subsequent aims will expand upon this hypothetical construct of a functionally segregated spectral processing pathway to determine how neural representations of the HRTF are enhanced by descending efferent influences and learned listening strategies. Electrophysiological experiments will record single-unit responses to virtual space stimuli that simulate the natural directional properties of the HRTF with headphones. Related psychophysical experiments will confirm the functional significance of observed physiological mechanisms by measuring the effects of spectral pathway lesions on sound localization behavior. Electrophysiological studies in behaviorally conditioned cats will explore the mechanisms for adaptive listening under training contingencies that bias the information content of individual features of the HRTF. The spectral shapes that contribute to sound localization are closely related to the sounds of human speech. Consequently, this research will enhance our current understanding of the processes and perceptions that shape directional hearing, speech processing, and compensation for hearing loss in humans.

描述（由申请人提供）：该项目的总体目标是描述大脑对声音定位的专业化。本申请的最初具体目标是评估由头部和外耳的方向特性生成的基于频谱的定位线索的上行传入表示。这些过滤效应被称为头部相关传递函数（HRTF）。据推测，这种复杂的声学信息是由一组选定的下丘神经元（O 型单位）的放电率编码的。后续目标将扩展功能分离频谱处理路径的假设结构，以确定如何通过递减的传出影响和学习的听力策略来增强 HRTF 的神经表征。电生理学实验将记录单个单元对虚拟空间刺激的反应，这些刺激通过耳机模拟 HRTF 的自然方向特性。相关的心理物理实验将通过测量频谱通路损伤对声音定位行为的影响来确认所观察到的生理机制的功能意义。对行为条件猫的电生理学研究将探索在训练意外情况下的适应性听力机制，这些意外情况会偏向 HRTF 个体特征的信息内容。有助于声音定位的频谱形状与人类语音密切相关。因此，这项研究将增强我们目前对塑造人类定向听力、语音处理和听力损失补偿的过程和感知的理解。