A physiological ear model for the emulation of masking

Area of Science:

• Auditory perception
• Signal processing
• Bioacoustics

Background:

• Auditory masking is vital for improving audio quality in technical transmission and storage.
• Accurate perception models are needed to predict masked thresholds for signals and distortions.
• Existing psychoacoustical measurements are often limited to simple masker-test-signal configurations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a physiological ear model that accurately emulates auditory sound processing relevant to masking.
• To enable masked threshold prediction for complex signals, applicable in audio transmission and storage.
• To validate the model's ability to replicate physiological and psychoacoustical masking phenomena.

Main Methods:

• Development of a nonlinear active cochlear model.
• Emulation of cochlear mechanisms including excitation and suppression.
• Incorporation of nonlinear mechanical amplification by outer hair cells.

Main Results:

• The ear model successfully emulates key masking mechanisms: excitation and suppression.
• Nonlinear amplification by outer hair cells is shown to be critical for accurate modeling.
• The model demonstrates classical masking patterns and nonlinear masking effects.

Conclusions:

• The presented ear model provides a robust tool for predicting masked thresholds in complex auditory scenarios.
• This physiological modeling approach advances the application of auditory masking in technical audio systems.
• The model's ability to replicate cochlear mechanics offers insights into auditory perception and its technical exploitation.