A neural-counting model based on physiological characteristics of the peripheral auditory system: Application to loudness estimation and intensity discrimination

Abstract

We have previously used an energy-based neural-counting model, incorporating spread of excitation, receptor saturation, spontaneous neural activity, and refractoriness in the primary auditory fibers, to predict the outcome of a number of neurophysiological and psychoacoustical experiments [M. C. Teich, et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. Suppl. 1 71, S18 (1982); G. Lachs et al., IEEE Trans. Syst., Man. Cybern. SMC-13, No. 5 (1983)]. We wish also to incorporate the frequency characteristics of the middle-ear transmission function, and the cochlear mapping function. This places a number of constraints on the allowed parameters of the theory. We discuss the parameter values required for our theoretical system to effectively predict the outcome of loudness-estimation and intensity-discrimination experiments, both for pure-tone and variable-bandwidth noise stimuli. [Work supported by NSF.]

Advances in Computer Science and Engineering

“…In fact, averaging of stimulus-evoked firing of primary afferent sensory neurons has a long and rich history. The literature on hearing, in particular, shows progressive refinement over the years (Schiaffino, 1957;Barducci, 1961;Siebert, 1965;McGill & Goldberg, 1968;Goldstein, 1974;Howes, 1974Howes, , 1979Lachs et al, 1984;Delgutte, 1987;Viemeister, 1988;Winslow & Sachs, 1988;Nizami & Schneider, 1997;Nizami, 2005b). That literature is worthy of a brief recapitulation.…”

“…Thus, theories of neuronal function that hope to capture the full behavioral range of hearing in the cat (and by extension, in man) have to stipulate how neurons of such limited dynamic range can encode intensity over the full behavioral range. One approach has been to assume that auditory stimulus intensity is proportional to activity in the whole auditory nerve (e.g., Schiaffino, 1957;Barducci, 1961;McGill & Goldberg, 1968;Goldstein, 1974;Howes, 1974Howes, , 1979Lachs et al, 1984). The general argument for this type of model is as follows for a pure tone.…”

“…Advances in Computer Science and Engineering 396 firing rate (e.g., Schiaffino, 1957;Barducci, 1961;McGill & Goldberg, 1968;Goldstein, 1974;Howes, 1974;Sachs & Abbas, 1974;Lachs et al, 1984;Sachs et al, 1989;Yates et al, 1990). However, Nizami and Schneider (1997) presented such an equation:…”

“…Also, Equation 5 does show saturation (levelling off) at sound pressure levels that lie beyond the range of the data. Earlier models of collected neuronal firing rates (Schiaffino, 1957;Barducci, 1961;McGill & Goldberg, 1968;Goldstein, 1974;Howes, 1974;Lachs et al, 1984;Delgutte, 1987;Viemeister, 1988;Winslow & Sachs, 1988) did not account for neurons whose rate-intensity plots are sloping-saturating. Equations 2 and 5 can help us determine the rate-intensity relation for an "average" neuron, as follows.…”

Lütkenhöner’s „Intensity Dependence of Auditory Responses“: An Instructional Example in How Not To Do Computational Neurobiology

“…Advances in Computer Science and Engineering 396 firing rate (e.g., Schiaffino, 1957;Barducci, 1961;McGill & Goldberg, 1968;Goldstein, 1974;Howes, 1974;Sachs & Abbas, 1974;Lachs et al, 1984;Sachs et al, 1989;Yates et al, 1990). However, Nizami and Schneider (1997) The actual derivation of Eq.…”