Binaural processing model based on contralateral inhibition. II. Dependence on spectral parameters

This and two accompanying articles [Breebaart et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 110, 1074-1088 (2001); 110, 1105-1117 (2001)] describe a computational model for the signal processing in the binaural auditory system. The model consists of several stages of monaural and binaural preprocessing combined with an optimal detector. In the present article the model is tested and validated by comparing its predictions with experimental data for binaural discrimination and masking conditions as a function of the spectral parameters of both masker and signal. For this purpose, the model is used as an artificial observer in a three-interval, forced-choice adaptive procedure. All model parameters were kept constant for all simulations described in this and the subsequent article. The effects of the following experimental parameters were investigated: center frequency of both masker and target, bandwidth of masker and target, the interaural phase relations of masker and target, and the level of the masker. Several phenomena that occur in binaural listening conditions can be accounted for. These include the wider effective binaural critical bandwidth observed in band-widening NoS(pi) conditions, the different masker-level dependence of binaural detection thresholds for narrow- and for wide-band maskers, the unification of IID and ITD sensitivity with binaural detection data, and the dependence of binaural thresholds on frequency.     

Binaural processing model based on contralateral inhibition. III. Dependence on temporal parameters

This paper and two accompanying papers [Breebaart et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 110, 1074-1088 (2001); 110, 1089-1104 (2001)] describe a computational model for the signal processing of the binaural auditory system. The model consists of several stages of monaural and binaural preprocessing combined with an optimal detector. Simulations of binaural masking experiments were performed as a function of temporal stimulus parameters and compared to psychophysical data adapted from literature. For this purpose, the model was used as an artificial observer in a three-interval, forced-choice procedure. All model parameters were kept constant for all simulations. Model predictions were obtained as a function of the interaural correlation of a masking noise and as a function of both masker and signal duration. Furthermore, maskers with a time-varying interaural correlation were used. Predictions were also obtained for stimuli with time-varying interaural time or intensity differences. Finally, binaural forward-masking conditions were simulated. The results show that the combination of a temporal integrator followed by an optimal detector in the time domain can account for all conditions that were tested, except for those using periodically varying interaural time differences (ITDs) and those measuring interaural correlation just-noticeable differences (jnd's) as a function of bandwidth.     

Extension of a binaural cross-correlation model by contralateral inhibition. I. Simulation of lateralization for stationary signals

Running interaural cross correlation is a basic assumption to model the performance of the binaural auditory system. Although this concept is particularly suited to simulate psychoacoustic localization phenomena, there exist some localization effects which cannot be explained by pure cross correlation. In this paper a model of interaural cross correlation is extended by a "contralateral-inhibition mechanism" and by "monaural detectors" in order to simulate a wide range of psychoacoustic lateralization data. The extended model explains lateralization of pure tones with interaural time differences as well as with interaural level differences. Multiple images are predicted for tones with characteristic combinations of interaural signal parameters and for noise signals with different degrees of interaural cross correlation. The model is also capable of simulating dynamic lateralization phenomena, such as the "law of the first wave front" which is dealt with in a companion paper [Lindemann, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 80, 1623-1630 (1986)]. The present paper is restricted to a comparison of the model predictions for stationary signals with the results of dichotic listening experiments.     

基于听觉感知特性的双耳音频处理技术*

自20世纪30年代引入立体声以来,人类对逼真的听觉体验一直进行着孜孜不倦的追求。双耳音频处理技术基于人耳听觉感知特性,利用计算机和数字信号处理等技术在听者双耳鼓膜处模拟出与真实场景相同的声压,以期给人以“身临其境”的体验,一直是音频信号处理领域的重要研究内容,特别是近两年随着虚拟现实等应用的蓬勃发展,得到更多关注。该文主要围绕双耳音频处理技术中所涉及的关键环节:双耳录音、双耳合成、耳机重放、扬声器重放、头跟踪等领域,以及相关典型应用场景进行较为系统的介绍,最后给出总结与展望。     

Extension of a binaural cross-correlation model by contralateral inhibition. II. The law of the first wave front

This paper explains the "law of the first wave front" and related binaural phenomena on the basis of the model presented in the previous paper [Lindemann, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 80, 1608-1622 (1986)] in which a contralateral inhibition mechanism was added to the well-known model of binaural cross correlation. In order to verify the predictions of the extended model, psychoacoustic experiments were performed with pairs of narrow-band impulses which were presented through headphones. The test signals consisted of a diotic primary sound and an "echo" with an interaural arrival-time difference. Lateralization was measured as a function of the time delay between primary sound and echo. For delays below the echo threshold, summing localization and the law of the first wave front were simulated; for delays above the echo threshold, the model predicts an influence of the primary sound on the lateralization of the echo.     

Binaural intelligibility prediction based on the speech transmission index

Although the speech transmission index (STI) is a well-accepted and standardized method for objective prediction of speech intelligibility in a wide range of environments and applications, it is essentially a monaural model. Advantages of binaural hearing in speech intelligibility are disregarded. In specific conditions, this leads to considerable mismatches between subjective intelligibility and the STI. A binaural version of the STI was developed based on interaural cross correlograms, which shows a considerably improved correspondence with subjective intelligibility in dichotic listening conditions. The new binaural STI is designed to be a relatively simple model, which adds only few parameters to the original standardized STI and changes none of the existing model parameters. For monaural conditions, the outcome is identical to the standardized STI. The new model was validated on a set of 39 dichotic listening conditions, featuring anechoic, classroom, listening room, and strongly echoic environments. For these 39 conditions, speech intelligibility [consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) word score] and binaural STI were measured. On the basis of these conditions, the relation between binaural STI and CVC word scores closely matches the STI reference curve (standardized relation between STI and CVC word score) for monaural listening. A better-ear STI appears to perform quite well in relation to the binaural STI model; the monaural STI performs poorly in these cases.     

仿人耳听觉的助听器双耳声源定位算法

为提高复杂场景下的听障患者的语言理解度,本文提出一种仿人耳听觉的助听器双耳声源定位算法。算法首先借鉴耳蜗分频特性和听觉掩蔽特性,将声音信号进行多通道分解,并提取人耳敏感频带的信号进行双耳时间差(Interaural Time Difference,ITD)估计;然后基于人耳哈斯效应,提取有效的ITD信息;最后采用头相关模型,将ITD转化为声源方向信息。同时,为了改善混响和多干扰声场景下的声源定位能力,本文提出一种多通道的加权联合策略。仿真和场景测试实验表明,算法的抗干扰性强,定位精度高。而且,在7名受试者的理解度测试中,同现有的助听器增强算法相比,结合定位算法的语音增强算法达到3~5 dB的性能改善。     

仿人耳听觉的助听器双耳声源定位算法

为提高复杂场景下的听障患者的语言理解度,本文提出一种仿人耳听觉的助听器双耳声源定位算法。算法首先借鉴耳蜗分频特性和听觉掩蔽特性,将声音信号进行多通道分解,并提取人耳敏感频带的信号进行双耳时间差(Interaural Time Difference,ITD)估计;然后基于人耳哈斯效应,提取有效的ITD信息;最后采用头相关模型,将ITD转化为声源方向信息。同时,为了改善混响和多干扰声场景下的声源定位能力,本文提出一种多通道的加权联合策略。仿真和场景测试实验表明,算法的抗干扰性强,定位精度高。而且,在7名受试者的理解度测试中,同现有的助听器增强算法相比,结合定位算法的语音增强算法达到3~5dB的性能改善。     

基于双高斯衰减模型的超声回波处理方法

信号降噪与特征提取是超声检测数据处理的关键技术.基于超声信号有特定结构而噪声和超声信号的结构无关,本文提出一种旨在解决强噪声背景下超声回波的参数估计和降噪问题的方法.该方法将超声回波的参数估计和降噪问题转换为函数优化问题,首先根据工程经验建立超声信号的双高斯衰减数学模型,然后根据观测回波和建立的超声信号模型确定目标函数,接着选择人工蜂群算法对目标函数进行优化从而得到参数的最优估计值,最后由估计出的参数根据建立的超声信号数学模型重构出无噪的超声估计信号.通过仿真和实验表明本文方法可以准确估计出信噪比大于-10 dB的含噪超声回波中的无噪信号,且效果优于基于自适应阈值的小波降噪方法和经验模态分解方法;此外相比常用的指数模型和高斯模型,本文提出的双高斯衰减超声信号模型与实测超声信号更接近,其均方误差为9.4×10~(-5),波形相似系数为0.98.     

Using statistical decision theory to predict speech intelligibility. I. Model structure.

This article introduces a new model that predicts speech intelligibility based on statistical decision theory. This model, which we call the speech recognition sensitivity (SRS) model, aims to predict speech-recognition performance from the long-term average speech spectrum, the masking excitation in the listener's ear, the linguistic entropy of the speech material, and the number of response alternatives available to the listener. A major difference between the SRS model and other models with similar aims, such as the articulation index, is this model's ability to account for synergetic and redundant interactions among spectral bands of speech. In the SRS model, linguistic entropy affects intelligibility by modifying the listener's identification sensitivity to the speech. The effect of the number of response alternatives on the test score is a direct consequence of the model structure. The SRS model also appears to predict the differential effect of linguistic entropy on filter condition and the interaction between linguistic entropy, signal-to-noise ratio, and language proficiency.     

结合空间侧抑制的仿生复眼模型

结合昆虫复眼运动神经具有的空间侧抑制机制,设计了一种新的复眼模型,并使用全硬件方法实现了该模型。与自相关的模拟量模型相比,该模型的数字部分采用触发响应模式,使系统具有很宽的速度测量范围;在此基础上,通过结合空间侧抑制网络,使得模型能够有效地减少背景光强不均匀、不稳定造成的错误判断。由于整个系统是完全实时并行的,所以能够处理高速运动情况。通过实验,验证了系统的可行性。     

基于等离子体环境涨落的原子结构计算模型

本文将等离子体核聚变反应截面研究中利用等离子体环境涨落进行修正了的Debye-Hückel屏蔽势推广到计算等离子体中辐射离子束缚态的能级结构. 通过Tsallis参数q的变化,在等离子体辐射离子束缚态能级结构的计算中加入等离子体参数涨落的平均效应,即,等离子体动力学. 具体给出了利用修正的Debye-Hückel屏蔽势对类氦铝束缚态能级结构的计算结果. 结果表明基于这种修正的屏蔽势,自由电子的极化分布具有和线性Debye-Hückel屏蔽势不同的结构. 这种通过等离子体涨落分布对屏蔽势函数进 关键词： 等离子体中的原子结构 等离子体环境涨落 修正了的Debye-Hückel屏蔽势     

Inertial structure. I

The desirability and possibility to generalize space-time structure to non-Euclidean spaces is investigated. To this end, the two basic notions of inertial motion and relativity are revealed. Several relevant statements about kinematics on spaces of constant curvature are pointed out.     

广义指向性信号模型的基阵处理

基阵处理是对空间传播波所载信息的处理。在实际水声环境中,信号波阵面在随机时变介质中传播,常常出现空间解相关,导致波向量谱以真正的信号到达方向(DOA)为中心的角扩展。本文论述了这种带有角扩展的所谓广义指向性信号的基阵处理,并就这种信号模型在能量意义上实现了信号匹配。本文还给出了广义指向性信号模型的计算机模拟方法,同时给出了一些计算机模拟的结果和新安江水库实验数据。     

Dynamics of selfavoiding tethered membranes. I. Model A dynamics (Rouse model)

The dynamical scaling properties of selfavoiding polymerized membranes with internal dimension D are studied using model A dynamics. It is shown that the theory is renormalizable to all orders in perturbation theory and that the dynamical scaling exponent z is given by . This result applies especially to membranes (D=2) but also to polymers (D=1). Received: 5 September 1997 / Accepted: 17 November 1997     

利用一维原子链模型研究薄膜瞬态结构变化

对于晶格结构响应的仿真与实验有助于我们理解激光激发引起的动态过程.利用一维原子链模型研究了激光加热后由于温度分布不均匀性产生的热应力对晶格的影响,该模型的计算结果与使用超快X射线衍射获得的实验结果相符合.该模型为研究光激发金属以及半导体等材料的超快晶格动力学提供了理论分析基础.     

Rheology of PVC compounds. I. Effect of processing variables on fusion

The rheological and fusion behavior of PVC compounds play a dominant role in the processing operations and in the development of physical properties in the processed material. These processes are governed by the complex morphological structure of PVC resin, compound composition, and processing conditions. Understanding morphological changes in the fusion process and their effect on the viscous and elastic properties of the melt is of great importance for development of PVC compounds.

The fusion process of PVC rigid compounds was investigated by a combination of several techniques. Samples with a varying state of fusion were prepared in a temperature-programmed Brabender Plasticorder. The degree of fusion of processed compounds was characterized by a rheological method based on the entrance pressure loss. The morphological changes in the fusion process were evaluated by electron microscopy. The process of fusion and the elastic response of processed material were correlated with the particle breakdown and the degree of interpenetration of particulate domains. The applicability of the rheological technique to follow the course of fusion of PVC compounds is discussed.     

Minimal agent based model for financial markets I

We introduce a minimal agent based model for financial markets to understand the nature and self-organization of the stylized facts. The model is minimal in the sense that we try to identify the essential ingredients to reproduce the most important deviations of price time series from a random walk behavior. We focus on four essential ingredients: fundamentalist agents which tend to stabilize the market; chartist agents which induce destabilization; analysis of price behavior for the two strategies; herding behavior which governs the possibility of changing strategy. Bubbles and crashes correspond to situations dominated by chartists, while fundamentalists provide a long time stability (on average). The stylized facts are shown to correspond to an intermittent behavior which occurs only for a finite value of the number of agents N. Therefore they correspond to finite size effects which, however, can occur at different time scales. We propose a new mechanism for the self-organization of this state which is linked to the existence of a threshold for the agents to be active or not active. The feedback between price fluctuations and number of active agents represents a crucial element for this state of self-organized intermittency. The model can be easily generalized to consider more realistic variants.