Effect of stimulus waveform on human sensitivity to electrical  stimulation of the auditory nerve (l’intervention aura lieu en français)

old_uid1627
titleEffect of stimulus waveform on human sensitivity to electrical  stimulation of the auditory nerve (l’intervention aura lieu en français)
start_date2006/10/17
schedule13h30
onlineno
location_infobât. recherche, 3e étage, Salle de réunion du laboratoire de virologie
summaryCochlear implants (CI) have provided a unique way to restore some  sense of hearing to profoundly-deaf subjects via direct stimulation of  the auditory nerve (AN). Most CI systems use symmetric, biphasic  electrical pulse trains. However, results from animal and  computational models suggested that modifying the shape of the pulse  may be beneficial in terms of reducing power consumption, increasing  dynamic range, reducing channel interaction, and/or improving spatial  selectivity. This project aims to better understand the properties of  the human AN by comparing behavioral thresholds and most comfortable  levels of CI subjects for a variety of stimulus waveforms. More  particularly, the effects of using asymmetric pulses (where one of the  two phases has a lower amplitude and a longer duration than the other)  and of inserting a gap between the two phases of a pulse are studied.  The results have implications for the design of new speech-processing  strategies and give insight in different aspects of the functioning of  the AN.
responsiblesGrimault