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From spikes to speech: NeuroVoc - A biologically plausible vocoder framework for auditory perception and cochlear
Jacob de Nobel1, Jeroen J Briaire2, Thomas H W Bäck1
1Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science, Niels Bohrweg 1, Leiden, Netherlands.
Hearing Research
|November 15, 2025
Summary
NeuroVoc reconstructs speech waveforms from neural activity, enabling comparisons between normal hearing and cochlear implant models. This vocoder accurately reflects speech-in-noise performance for hearing loss simulations.
Area of Science:
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Speech Processing
- Signal Processing
Background:
- Simulating auditory perception is crucial for understanding hearing loss and developing assistive technologies.
- Current vocoder models often require specific speech-coding strategies, limiting flexibility.
- Comparing normal hearing and electrical hearing models directly is challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce NeuroVoc, a flexible, model-agnostic vocoder framework.
- To enable reconstruction of acoustic waveforms from simulated neural activity.
- To facilitate direct comparisons between normal hearing and electrical hearing models.
Main Methods:
- NeuroVoc uses inverse Fourier transform on neurogram representations (time-frequency binned auditory nerve fiber outputs).
- The modular architecture allows easy substitution of underlying auditory models.
- Perceptual intelligibility was evaluated using an online Digits-in-Noise (DIN) test.
Main Results:
- NeuroVoc successfully reconstructed intelligible speech from both normal hearing and electrical hearing models.
- The normal hearing model preserved harmonic structure better than the electrical hearing model.
- Vocoded speech using electrical hearing models showed statistically equivalent performance to clinical data for cochlear implant users.
Conclusions:
- NeuroVoc accurately reflects reduced speech-in-noise performance in simulated hearing loss.
- The framework supports flexible auditory model comparisons for cochlear implant research.
- This vocoder advances the simulation of auditory perception in both normal and impaired hearing.
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