Auditory signal processing and perception

• describe and apply basic signal analysis concepts (e.g., convolution, correlation, Fourier transform, sampling, quantization, aliasing)
• categorize different types of hearing impairments and their perceptual consequences, and evaluate potential compensation strategies in modern hearing aids and cochlear implants
• interpret the concepts of signal detection theory and explain their implications for psychophysical measurement methods
• analyse the processing of sound in the cochlea (inner ear), predict the features of cochlear transformation using an electrical circuit (PSpice)
• characterise the auditory system’s frequency selective properties, demonstrate the concept of masking, and evaluate models of auditory masking
• explain the auditory system’s properties of temporal processing, calculate the modulation spectrum of a stimulus, and evaluate the concept of modulation-frequency selective processing
• discuss methods to measure loudness and intensity discrimination; evaluate models of loudness and intensity coding in the auditory system
• demonstrate and discuss the principles of spatial and binaural hearing; predict binaural perception data using an equalization-cancellation model
• relate speech intelligibility performance to the properties of stimulus, room acoustics and state of hearing; compare and evaluate different methods for the measurement of speech intelligibility
• discuss models of signal processing in auditory neurons, evaluate physiologically inspired models of auditory perception
• explain methods for measuring otoacoustic emissions and acoustically evoked brain potentials; categorize different types of evoked potentials; interpret the role of cochlear processing for the generation of brainstem potentials

Psychophysics and physiology of the auditory system. Models of auditory signal processing and perception. Neurophysiological measuring methods. Relation between neurophysiological measurements and psychoacoustical (behavioral) findings. Neural imaging techniques. Technical and clinical applications. Compensation strategies in modern hearing aids and cochlear implants. There are classroom-based problem-solving sets and seven Matlab-based exercises that complement some of the lectures in the course.

Lectures and exercises.

E-learning is used in the form of online and interactives quizzes, video recorded lectures, course wiki open for user input, discussion board or blog, web based tools as well as a digital whiteboard.