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A Lightweight, Headphones-based System for Manipulating Auditory Feedback in Songbirds

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Encoding pitch contours using current steering.

Xin Luo¹, David M Landsberger, Monica Padilla

¹Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Purdue University, 500 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA. luo5@purdue.edu

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America

|September 7, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Cochlear implant users can identify pitch contours using virtual channels (VCs). Performance improves with longer sound durations, suggesting VCs are a viable method for pitch encoding.

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Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages

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Area of Science:

Auditory Neuroscience
Biomedical Engineering
Speech and Hearing Science

Background:

Cochlear implants (CIs) aim to restore hearing by electrically stimulating the auditory nerve.
Pitch perception in CI users is limited compared to normal hearing.
Virtual channels (VCs) offer a potential method to increase spectral resolution and improve pitch perception.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate cochlear implant users' ability to perceive pitch contours using time-varying virtual channels.
To determine the effect of stimulus duration and electrode location on pitch contour identification.
To assess the relationship between virtual channel discrimination and pitch contour identification.

Main Methods:

Seven CI users participated in the study.
Stimuli included 9 and 3 pitch contours created via current steering between electrode pairs.
Stimulus durations ranged from 100 to 1000 ms; apical, medial, and basal electrode pairs were used.
Virtual channel discrimination was also tested.

Main Results:

Pitch contour identification (PCI) scores were similar across electrode locations.
PCI significantly improved with longer stimulus durations (especially >300 ms).
Two subjects achieved near-perfect 9-contour identification, and five achieved perfect 3-contour identification at longer durations.
Individual performance varied significantly; VC discrimination correlated with PCI scores.

Conclusions:

Current steering is a feasible method for encoding pitch contours in CIs.
Identification of pitch contours using VCs relies heavily on users' sensitivity to VCs.
Longer stimulus durations enhance pitch contour perception in CI users.