9409939 Kipke This Research Initiation Award proposes involved understanding of speech processing in the elaborate neural circuits of the lower auditory system and to apply this understanding to improving cochlear implants. The objectives are to develop computer models of the cochlear nucleus to explore central auditory processing. The specific aims are to: (1) identify anatomical and physiological parameters that are critical for single-cell responses to tones, noise, and speech using detailed models of the cochlear nucleus primary types of neurons, (2) identify parameters that are critical for describing the functional connectivity in the cochlear nucleus using network models, and (3) investigate the effects of reduced cochlear function on the processing in the cochlear nucleus. ***
