Rubinstein J T, Wilson B S, Finley C C, Abbas P J
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242, USA.
Hear Res. 1999 Jan;127(1-2):108-18. doi: 10.1016/s0378-5955(98)00185-3.
We describe a novel signal processing strategy for cochlear implants designed to emphasize stochastic independence across the excited neural population. The strategy is based on the observation that high rate pulse trains may produce random spike patterns in auditory nerve fibers that are statistically similar to those produced by spontaneous activity in the normal cochlea. We call this activity 'pseudospontaneous'. A supercomputer-based computational model of a population of auditory nerve fibers suggests that different average rates of pseudospontaneous activity can be created by varying the stimulus current of a fixed-amplitude, high-rate pulse train, e.g. 5000 pps. Electrically-evoked compound action potentials recorded in a human cochlear implant subject are consistent with the hypothesis that such a stimulus can desynchronize the fiber population. This desynchronization may enhance neural representation of temporal detail and dynamic range with a cochlear implant and eliminate a major difference between acoustic and electric hearing.
我们描述了一种用于人工耳蜗的新型信号处理策略，旨在强调兴奋神经群体之间的随机独立性。该策略基于这样的观察结果：高速率脉冲序列可能在听神经纤维中产生随机的尖峰模式，这些模式在统计学上与正常耳蜗中自发活动产生的模式相似。我们将这种活动称为“假自发活动”。基于超级计算机的一群听神经纤维的计算模型表明，通过改变固定幅度、高速率脉冲序列（例如5000次/秒）的刺激电流，可以产生不同平均速率的假自发活动。在一名人工耳蜗受试者中记录的电诱发复合动作电位与这样的假设一致，即这种刺激可以使纤维群体去同步化。这种去同步化可能会增强人工耳蜗对时间细节和动态范围的神经表征，并消除声学听力和电听力之间的一个主要差异。
