The inclusion of time-varyng jitter in the equalization-cancellation model of binaural processing

Abstract

A more realistic version of the analytically defined equalization-cancellation(EC) model of binaural processing can be simulated in the time domain by introducing time-varying jitters, both in time and amplitude. Although the classic EC model can predict a wide range of binaural-masking-level-difference (BMLD) data in binaural detection, it is more reasonable physiologically to assume that internal noise is time varying, as opposed to the original assumption that the internal time and amplitude errors are different from waveform to waveform but stay constant within a waveform. In the current study, the BMLD predictions for both the analytical model and the simulation are compared for the representative conditions(NoSπ, NπSo, NoSm). It is also proved theoretically that the simulation results converge to the analytical prediction in the NτnSτs case. Differences between the EC model and the simulation are discussed. Applying this simulation to speech perception based on the speech intelligibility index(SII) in anechoic environments predicts binaural advantages consistent with results described in the literature (Zurek,1993). The simulation is also being applied to the speech-transmission-index (STI) prediction in complex environments. [Work supported by NIDCD R01 DC00100.]