scholarly journals Effect of inter-aural modulation depth difference on interaural time difference thresholds for speech: An observational study

F1000Research ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 115
Author(s):  
Arivudainambi Pitchaimuthu ◽  
Vibha Kanagokar ◽  
Srividya Grama Bhagavan ◽  
Jayashree S. Bhat
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Background Noise ◽  
Modulation Depth ◽  
Interaural Time Difference ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Time Difference ◽  
Depth Difference ◽  
Main Effect ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Age Range

Background: The temporal envelope (ENV) plays a vital role in conveying inter-aural time difference (ITD) in many clinical populations. However, the presence of background noise and electronic features, such as compression, reduces the modulation depth of ENV to a different degree in both ears. The effect of ENV modulation depth differences between the ears on ITD thresholds is unknown; therefore, this was the aim of the current study’s investigation. Methods: Six normally hearing young adults (age range 20-30 years) participated in the current study. Six vowel-consonant-vowel (VCV) (/aka/, /aga/, /apa/, /aba/, /ata/, /ada/) tokens were used as the probe stimuli. ENV depth of VCV tokens was smeared by 0%, 29%, and 50%, which results in 100%, 71%, and 50% of the original modulation depth. ITD thresholds were estimated as a function of the difference in temporal ENV depth between the ears, wherein in one ear the modulation depth was retained at 100% and in the other ear, the modulation depth was changed to 100%, 71%, and 50%. Results: Repeated measures of ANOVA revealed a significant main effect of interaural modulation depth differences on the ITD threshold (F(2,10)= 9.04, p= 0.006). ITD thresholds increased with an increase in the inter-aural modulation depth difference. Conclusion: Inter-aural ENV depth is critical for ITD perception.

Effects of Amplitude Modulation on the Coding of Interaural Time Differences of Low-Frequency Sounds in the Inferior Colliculus. II. Neural Mechanisms

2003 ◽  
Vol 90 (5) ◽  
pp. 2827-2836 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. R. D'Angelo ◽  
S. J. Sterbing ◽  
E.-M. Ostapoff ◽  
S. Kuwada
Keyword(s):  
Inferior Colliculus ◽  
Background Noise ◽  
Modulation Depth ◽  
Interaural Time Difference ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Companion Paper ◽  
Neural Mechanisms ◽  
Physical Factors ◽  
Correlation Spectrum ◽  
The Difference

In our companion paper, we reported on interaural time difference (ITD)-sensitive neurons that enhanced, suppressed, or did not change their response when identical AM was added to both ears. Here, we first examined physical factors such as the difference in the interaural correlation, spectrum, or energy between the modulated and unmodulated signals. These were insufficient to explain the observed enhancement and suppression. We then examined neural mechanisms by selectively modulating the signal to each ear, varying modulation depth, and adding background noise to the unmodulated signal. These experiments implicated excitatory and inhibitory monaural inputs to the inferior colliculus (IC). These monaural inputs are postulated to adapt to an unmodulated signal and adapt less to a modulated signal. Thus enhancement or suppression is created by the convergence of these excitatory or inhibitory inputs with the inputs from the binaural comparators. Under modulation, the role of the monaural input is to shift the threshold of the IC neuron. Consistent with this role, background noise mimicked the effect of modulation. Functionally, enhancement and suppression may serve in detecting the degree of modulation in a sound source while preserving ITD information.

The Influence of Speech Rate on Acceptable Noise Levels

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (07) ◽  
pp. 596-608 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shelby Tiffin ◽  
Susan Gordon-Hickey
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Background Noise ◽  
Speech Rate ◽  
Speaking Rate ◽  
Noise Levels ◽  
Main Effect ◽  
Listening Levels ◽  
Accurate Perception ◽  
Quasi Experimental

AbstractOlder adults often struggle with accurate perception of rate-altered speech and have difficulty understanding speech in noise. The acceptable noise level (ANL) quantifies a listener’s willingness to listen to speech in background noise and has been found to accurately predict hearing aid success. Based on the difficulty older adults experience with rapid speech, we were interested in how older adults may change the amount of background noise they willingly accept in a variety of speech rate conditions.To determine the effects of age and speech rate on the ANL.A quasi-experimental mixed design was employed.Fifteen young adults (19–27 yr) and fifteen older adults (55–73 yr) with audiometrically normal hearing or hearing loss within age-normed limits served as participants.Most comfortable listening levels (MCLs) and background noise levels (BNLs) were measured using three different speech rates (slow, normal, and fast). The ANL was calculated by subtracting BNL from MCL. Repeated measures analysis of variances were used to analyze the effects of age and speech rate on ANL.A significant main effect of speech rate was observed; however, a significant main effect of age was not found. Results indicated that as speech rate increased the ANLs increased. This suggests that participants became less accepting of background noise as speech rates increased.The findings of the present study provide support for communication strategies that recommend slowing an individual’s speaking rate and/or reducing background noise, if possible. Participants in the present study were better able to cope with background noise when the primary stimulus was presented at slow and normal speaking rates.

Degree of Agreement Between Infant Serum and Salivary Concentration of Leptin and Adiponectin and Its Association With Infants’ Feeding

2020 ◽  
pp. 109980042097336
Author(s):  
Ana M. Linares ◽  
Mary Kay Rayens ◽  
Jennifer S. Moylan ◽  
Craig S. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Zero Bias ◽  
Glucose And Lipid Metabolism ◽  
Main Effect ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Regulation Of Growth ◽  
Mean Concentration ◽  
Salivary Concentration ◽  
Infants Feeding

Background: Leptin and adiponectin, two adipokines involved in glucose and lipid metabolism, have been linked to regulation of growth in early infancy, energy balance, and metabolic disorders in childhood. The aim of this study was to determine if concentrations of leptin and adiponectin could be measured reliably in infants’ saliva, to evaluate the degree of agreement with infant serum levels, and to explore their association with infant feeding status. Methods: A total of 34 infants were recruited after birth and followed for 20 weeks. After log-transformation of the values, a Bland-Altman graphical approach was used to summarize the direction of the difference between the serum and saliva values. Repeated measures mixed modeling was used to evaluate differences over time in these outcomes by feeding status. Results: Mean concentration of salivary leptin and adiponectin in infants was 3.7 ( SD = .8) ng/mL and 2.9 ( SD = 0.7) ng/mL, respectively. The degree of agreement between serum and saliva for log-transformed leptin and adiponectin values were relatively robust, albeit with a non-zero bias between the two methods, given that serum values were greater than corresponding saliva values for both adipokines in all infants. Each of the four repeated measures mixed models (one for each adipokine measure) had a significant main effect; however, the interaction between time and feeding status was not significant in any of the models. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that leptin and adiponectin can be measured in infant saliva, but in some cases leptin concentrations may be more difficult to detect.

scholarly journals Tooth brushing performance in adolescents as compared to the best-practice demonstrated in group prophylaxis programs: an observational study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zdenka Eidenhardt ◽  
Alexander Ritsert ◽  
Sadhvi Shankar-Subramanian ◽  
Stefanie Ebel ◽  
Jutta Margraf-Stiksrud ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Tooth Brushing ◽  
Occlusal Surfaces ◽  
Tooth Surfaces ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Student’S T ◽  
Age Range

Abstract Background Research indicates that adolescents may have difficulties to adopt the tooth brushing recommendations delivered in prophylaxis programs. However, it is not clear whether these difficulties are seen amongst the entire age range of adolescence (10–19 years) or only occur at certain developmental stages of the adolescence. The present study analyzes the tooth brushing performance of adolescents and compares it to the best-practice of tooth brushing demonstrated during prophylaxis programs. Methods A random sample of N = 66 adolescents, comprising 10-year-olds (n = 42) and 15-year-olds (n = 24), were asked to perform oral hygiene to the best of their abilities in front of a tablet camera. Videos were analyzed for tooth brushing duration, location, and brushing movements, and the difference between the actual and expected behaviour was tested for consistency using repeated measures ANOVAs and Student’s t-tests. For the direct comparison across different age groups, already available data from 12- and 18-year-olds were reanalysed. Results The average brushing time (mean ± SD) of the 10-year-olds and 15-year-olds was 195.8 s (74.6 s) and 196.1 s (75.8 s), respectively. Regardless of age, the adolescents distributed their brushing time unevenly across the inner, outer and occlusal surfaces. The inner surfaces in particular were neglected to a considerable extent, as no age group spent more than 15.8% of the total brushing time on them. Furthermore, all age groups showed a high proportion of horizontal movements on the inner and outer surfaces, regardless of the movements instructed for the respective surfaces. Conclusion Even if adolescents brush to the best of their abilities, they neglect or skip one or many of the tooth surfaces. The reasons for the lack of compliance to tooth brushing instructions are discussed in light of the methods used in prophylaxis programs and the influence of parents.

THE EFFECT OF MUSIC GENRE AND MUSIC-PREFERENCE DIMENSION ON ACCEPTABLE NOISE LEVELS IN LISTENERS WITH NORMAL HEARING

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Gordon-Hickey ◽  
Melinda Freyaldenhoven Bryan
Keyword(s):  
Instrumental Music ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Background Noise ◽  
Rock Music ◽  
Maximum Level ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Music Preference ◽  
Psychological Variables ◽  
Music Genre ◽  
The Difference

ABSTRACT Background: The acceptable noise level (ANL) is the maximum level of background noise that an individual is willing to accept while listening to speech. The type of background noise does not affect ANL results except for music (Gordon-Hickey & Moore, 2007; Nàbĕlek et al, 1991). Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if ANL differed due to music genre or music genre preference. Research Design: A repeated-measures experimental design was employed. Study Sample: Thirty-three young adults with normal hearing served as listeners. Data Collection and Analysis: MCL and BNL were measured to twelve-talker babble and 5 music samples from different genres: blues, classical, country, jazz, and rock. Additionally, music preference was evaluated via rank ordering of genre and by completion of the STOMP questionnaire. Results: Results indicated that ANL for music differed based on music genre; however, the difference was unrelated to music genre preference. Also, those with low ANLs tended to prefer the Intense and Rebellious music-preference dimension compared to those with high ANLs. Conclusions: For instrumental music, ANL was lower for blues and rock music compared to classical, country, and jazz. The differences identified were not related to music genre preference; however, this finding may be related to the music preference dimension of Intense and Rebellious music. Future work should evaluate the psychological variables that make up music-preference dimension to determine if these relate to our ANL.

scholarly journals Preserved Acoustic Hearing in Cochlear Implantation Improves Speech Perception

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (02) ◽  
pp. 145-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sterling W. Sheffield ◽  
Kelly Jahn ◽  
René H. Gifford
Keyword(s):  
Speech Perception ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Background Noise ◽  
Surgical Techniques ◽  
Hearing Preservation ◽  
Residual Hearing ◽  
Acoustic Frequency ◽  
Diffuse Background ◽  
Acoustic Hearing ◽  
The Difference

Background: With improved surgical techniques and electrode design, an increasing number of cochlear implant (CI) recipients have preserved acoustic hearing in the implanted ear, thereby resulting in bilateral acoustic hearing. There are currently no guidelines, however, for clinicians with respect to audiometric criteria and the recommendation of amplification in the implanted ear. The acoustic bandwidth necessary to obtain speech perception benefit from acoustic hearing in the implanted ear is unknown. Additionally, it is important to determine if, and in which listening environments, acoustic hearing in both ears provides more benefit than hearing in just one ear, even with limited residual hearing. Purpose: The purposes of this study were to (1) determine whether acoustic hearing in an ear with a CI provides as much speech perception benefit as an equivalent bandwidth of acoustic hearing in the nonimplanted ear, and (2) determine whether acoustic hearing in both ears provides more benefit than hearing in just one ear. Research Design: A repeated-measures, within-participant design was used to compare performance across listening conditions. Study Sample: Seven adults with CIs and bilateral residual acoustic hearing (hearing preservation) were recruited for the study. Data Collection and Analysis: Consonant-nucleus-consonant word recognition was tested in four conditions: CI alone, CI + acoustic hearing in the nonimplanted ear, CI + acoustic hearing in the implanted ear, and CI + bilateral acoustic hearing. A series of low-pass filters were used to examine the effects of acoustic bandwidth through an insert earphone with amplification. Benefit was defined as the difference among conditions. The benefit of bilateral acoustic hearing was tested in both diffuse and single-source background noise. Results were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance. Results: Similar benefit was obtained for equivalent acoustic frequency bandwidth in either ear. Acoustic hearing in the nonimplanted ear provided more benefit than the implanted ear only in the wideband condition, most likely because of better audiometric thresholds (>500 Hz) in the nonimplanted ear. Bilateral acoustic hearing provided more benefit than unilateral hearing in either ear alone, but only in diffuse background noise. Conclusions: Results support use of amplification in the implanted ear if residual hearing is present. The benefit of bilateral acoustic hearing (hearing preservation) should not be tested in quiet or with spatially coincident speech and noise, but rather in spatially separated speech and noise (e.g., diffuse background noise).

The Effects of a Caffeine Placebo and Experimenter Expectation on Blood Pressure, Heart Rate, Well-Being, and Cognitive Performance

2001 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harald Walach ◽  
Stefan Schmidt ◽  
Yvonne-Michelle Bihr ◽  
Susanne Wiesch
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Main Effect ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Being There ◽  
To Receive

We studied the effect of experimenter expectations and different instructions in a balanced placebo design. 157 subjects were randomized into a 2 × 4 factorial design. Two experimenters were led to expect placebos either to produce physiological effects or not (pro- vs. antiplacebo). All subjects except a control group received a caffeine placebo. They were either made to expect coffee, no coffee, or were in a double-blind condition. Dependent measures were blood pressure, heart rate, well-being, and a cognitive task. There was one main effect on the instruction factor (p = 0.03) with the group “told no caffeine” reporting significantly better well-being. There was one main effect on the experimenter factor with subjects instructed by experimenter “proplacebo” having higher systolic blood pressure (p = 0.008). There was one interaction with subjects instructed by experimenter “proplacebo” to receive coffee doing worse in the cognitive task than the rest. Subjects instructed by experimenter “antiplacebo” were significantly less likely to believe the experimental instruction, and that mostly if they had been instructed to receive coffee. Contrary to the literature we could not show an effect of instruction, but there was an effect of experimenters. It is likely, however, that these experimenter effects were not due to experimental manipulations, but to the difference in personalities.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document