NWI-NM102
Auditory Perception and Technology
Course infoSchedule
Course moduleNWI-NM102
Credits (ECTS)3
CategoryMA (Master)
Language of instructionEnglish
Offered byRadboud University; Faculty of Science; Wiskunde, Natuur- en Sterrenkunde;
Lecturer(s)
Coordinator
prof. dr. A.J. van Opstal
Other course modules lecturer
Examiner
prof. dr. A.J. van Opstal
Other course modules lecturer
Contactperson for the course
prof. dr. A.J. van Opstal
Other course modules lecturer
Lecturer
prof. dr. A.J. van Opstal
Other course modules lecturer
Lecturer
prof. dr. ir. A.F.M. Snik
Other course modules lecturer
Academic year2018
Period
KW2  (05/11/2018 to 27/01/2019)
Starting block
KW2
Course mode
full-time
Remarks-
Registration using OSIRISYes
Course open to students from other facultiesYes
Pre-registrationNo
Waiting listNo
Placement procedure-
Aims
  • students can describe
    • the neural pathways of the auditory system
    • the traveling wave, inner- and outer hair cell function of the cochlea
    • the neural responses in different stages of the ascending auditory pathway
    • the concept of spectrotemporal receptive fields
  • students can design and implement basic psychoacoustic tests
  • students can describe and interpret different monaural and binaural hearing impairments
  • students can describe the methodology and function of different hearing aids
Content
The course on Auditory Perception and Technology consists of two parts. The first part (6 weeks; prof Van Opstal, Biophysics) presents a thorough background of the basic neurobiological, functional and psychoacoustic properties of the auditory system. This will be achieved by integrating essential experimental and theoretical frameworks from biophysics (e.g. cochlear mechanics, auditory filters), human psychophysics (e.g. signal detection theory), and computational neuroscience and neurophysiology (e.g. spectro-temporal analysis in the CNS, and the neural encoding of sounds). These tools are applied to several psychoacoustic phenomena, and will also be applied in some simple psycho-acsoustic (dichotic) experiments to be carried out as assignements on the computer.

The second part of the course (2 weeks; prof Snik, ENT department RadboudUMC) focuses on the technology of restoring hearing function in the hearing impaired. First, different types of hearing impairments are described. The following hearing technologies will be discussed: (acoustic) hearing aids, bone-anchored hearing devices, middle-ear implant, the cochlear implant.

Additional comments
Admission: Master's students following the Neuroscience track at FNWI and students from the Cognitive Research Master (track2: Perception & Action, and track 4: Brain Networks & Neuronal Communication).
Elective course for students in the bachelor Minor Neuroscience.

Test information
Written exam, with weighted averaging of results seminars and computer exam grade and practicals (70%-30%)

Prerequisites
Basic mathematics, including Fourier series, and elementary differential equations, basic use of Matlab (or equivalent)Bachelor physics, mathematics, informatics, medical biology, science, functional psychology, artificial intelligence

Required materials
Book
A.J. van Opstal: The Auditory System and Human Sound Localization Behavior, Elsevier Academic Press, 2016, ISBN 978-0-12-801529-2 (see also Psychophysics 1; the book can be ordered at 30% discount (about € 60) via the lecturer)
Reader
Syllabus, lecture notes
Handouts

Recommended materials
Book
Bregman: Auditory Scene Analysis, MIT Press (1990)
Articles
J. Neuroscience, J. Neurophysiology, J. Acoustical Society of America, Nature, Science, Nature Neuroscience, Hearing Research, Experimental Brain Research, Perception and Psychophysics, TINS (to be announced)

Instructional modes
Course
Attendance MandatoryYes

Lecture
Attendance MandatoryYes

Practical computer training
Attendance MandatoryYes

Tutorial
Attendance MandatoryYes

Zelfstudie

Tests
Exam
Test weight7
Test typeExam
OpportunitiesBlock KW2, Block KW3

Assignments
Test weight3
Test typeAssignment
OpportunitiesBlock KW2, Block KW3