In everyday situations, successful sound localization and communication require that sources of sound be perceptually segregated from the acoustic contributions of the environment. Recent results have demonstrated that aspects of the environment's acoustics become less salient with increased exposure, which suggests a form of perceptual adaptation. The goal of this project is to understand how the processes subserving human auditory perception adapt to changes in environmental acoustics, and in particular how this adaptation may facilitate sound localization and communication. The project has four specific aims: two scientific and two methodological. The scientific aims will conduct preliminary research seeking to extend current theories as to how the brain interprets and often suppresses the contributions of single echoes to more realistic acoustic situations with multiple echoes and reverberation. Of particular interest is the adaptive nature of echo suppression, which is thought to reflect the role of more centralized brain processes. Experiments will examine listeners' abilities to both locate sounds in space and to comprehend speech under realistic stimulus conditions that will elicit adaptive suppression of environmental acoustic properties. The methodological aims of the project will enable the scientific aims, by validating new virtual methods of stimulus control that allow realistic acoustical simulation of room environments, and by developing new response techniques. Because effects of environmental acoustics, such as echoes and reverberation, often pose significant problems for sound localization and communication in individuals with hearing loss, a complete understanding of these adaptive suppression effects will lead to improvements in both assistive technologies (design of binaural hearing aids and prosthetic devices) and acoustical design of listening environments.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Small Research Grants (R03)
Project #
1R03DC005709-01
Application #
6553064
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZDC1-SRB-O (30))
Program Officer
Luethke, Lynn E
Project Start
2002-08-01
Project End
2003-07-31
Budget Start
2002-08-01
Budget End
2003-07-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2002
Total Cost
$72,750
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Wisconsin Madison
Department
Pediatrics
Type
Other Domestic Higher Education
DUNS #
161202122
City
Madison
State
WI
Country
United States
Zip Code
53715
Zahorik, Pavel (2009) Perceptually relevant parameters for virtual listening simulation of small room acoustics. J Acoust Soc Am 126:776-91
Zahorik, Pavel; Kelly, Jonathan W (2007) Accurate vocal compensation for sound intensity loss with increasing distance in natural environments. J Acoust Soc Am 122:EL143-50
Zahorik, Pavel; Bangayan, Philbert; Sundareswaran, V et al. (2006) Perceptual recalibration in human sound localization: learning to remediate front-back reversals. J Acoust Soc Am 120:343-59