The general goal of the proposed research is to understand how humans process dynamic changes in binaural cues. Specifically, the research is aimed toward an understanding of how the detection and discrimination of dynamically changing binaural cues is affected by the spectral and temporal characteristics of the stimuli. We propose (Aim 1) to conduct a series of behavioral experiments using stimulus conditions chosen to elucidate how and under what conditions leading and/or trailing binaural information affects the detection and discrimination of short-lived and/or dynamically changing binaural cues. The set of experiments is designed to test the notion that the detectability and discriminability of binaural cues depends upon spectral and/or temporal contrasts available in the (across-frequency) cross-correlation function. We believe that the new empirical data, combined with our new theoretical insights, will allow us to reconcile the results of apparently contradictory findings in the literature. We also propose (Aim 2) to use a cross-correlation based model of binaural hearing that incorporates peripheral auditory processing in order to provide a quantitative, mechanistic account of phenomena typically described via temporal windows and the new data obtained under Aim 1 concerning how temporal and spectral contrasts influence binaural detectability. The potential health benefits of this program of research are a better understanding of how thc ear and brain process information and the potential for """"""""better"""""""" diagnostic procedures that may, eventually, have clinical significance.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01DC004073-04
Application #
6572690
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-IFCN-6 (01))
Program Officer
Donahue, Amy
Project Start
1999-05-01
Project End
2007-11-30
Budget Start
2002-12-01
Budget End
2003-11-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$195,468
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Connecticut
Department
Surgery
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
022254226
City
Farmington
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06030
Bernstein, Leslie R; Trahiotis, Constantine (2009) How sensitivity to ongoing interaural temporal disparities is affected by manipulations of temporal features of the envelopes of high-frequency stimuli. J Acoust Soc Am 125:3234-42
Bernstein, Leslie R; Trahiotis, Constantine (2008) Binaural signal detection, overall masking level, and masker interaural correlation: revisiting the internal noise hypothesis. J Acoust Soc Am 124:3850-60
Bernstein, Leslie R; Trahiotis, Constantine (2008) Discrimination of interaural temporal disparities conveyed by high-frequency sinusoidally amplitude-modulated tones and high-frequency transposed tones: effects of spectrally flanking noises. J Acoust Soc Am 124:3088-94
Buell, Thomas N; Griffin, Sarah J; Bernstein, Leslie R (2008) Listeners'sensitivity to ""onset/offset"" and ""ongoing"" interaural delays in high-frequency, sinusoidally amplitude-modulated tones. J Acoust Soc Am 123:279-94
Bernstein, Leslie R; Trahiotis, Constantine (2007) Why do transposed stimuli enhance binaural processing?: Interaural envelope correlation vs envelope normalized fourth moment. J Acoust Soc Am 121:EL23-8
Bernstein, Leslie R; Trahiotis, Constantine; Freyman, Richard L (2006) Binaural detection of 500-Hz tones in broadband and in narrowband masking noise: effects of signal/masker duration and forward masking fringes. J Acoust Soc Am 119:2981-93
Bernstein, Leslie R; Trahiotis, Constantine (2005) Measures of extents of laterality for high-frequency ""transposed"" stimuli under conditions of binaural interference. J Acoust Soc Am 118:1626-35
Bernstein, Leslie R (2004) Sensitivity to interaural intensitive disparities: listeners' use of potential cues. J Acoust Soc Am 115:3156-60
Bernstein, Leslie R; Trahiotis, Constantine (2004) The apparent immunity of high-frequency ""transposed"" stimuli to low-frequency binaural interference. J Acoust Soc Am 116:3062-9
Akeroyd, Michael A (2003) Threshold differences for interaural time delays carried by double vowels. J Acoust Soc Am 114:2167-77

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