Evaluation of the non-linear properties of two computational models of the peripheral auditory system

Abstract

The output responses of two computational models of the peripheral auditory system were investigated. The models used were the Carney model, described in Zilany et al. (2009) and the Seneff model, as described in Seneff 1988. Of particular interest is the exhibition of the ‘synchrony capture’ phenomenon. This occurs when the auditory nerve fibre preferentially fires in time sync with a single spectral component within a complex sound. The studies of Sinex et al. (2003) and Deng et al. (1987) were used for visual comparison to the modelled responses with regards to synchrony capture. Sinex et al. (2003) showed synchrony capture in the responses of auditory nerve fibres to components within a harmonic tone against increasing intensity. Deng et al. (1987) showed synchrony capture to a component over increasing relative intensity of that component within a harmonic tone. The results revealed that the Seneff model showed strong agreement to the recorded response sets presented in Sinex et al. (2003 and Deng et al. (1987). The Carney model showed strong agreement to the synchrony capture presented in Deng et al. (1987) but responses did not have strong agreement to synchrony capture presented in Sinex et al. (2003).