A neural-counting model based on physiological characteristics of the peripheral auditory system: Application to loudness estimation and intensity discrimination

Abstract

We have previously used an energy-based neural-counting model, incorporating spread of excitation, receptor saturation, spontaneous neural activity, and refractoriness in the primary auditory fibers, to predict the outcome of a number of neurophysiological and psychoacoustical experiments [M. C. Teich, et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. Suppl. 1 71, S18 (1982); G. Lachs et al., IEEE Trans. Syst., Man. Cybern. SMC-13, No. 5 (1983)]. We wish also to incorporate the frequency characteristics of the middle-ear transmission function, and the cochlear mapping function. This places a number of constraints on the allowed parameters of the theory. We discuss the parameter values required for our theoretical system to effectively predict the outcome of loudness-estimation and intensity-discrimination experiments, both for pure-tone and variable-bandwidth noise stimuli. [Work supported by NSF.]