CourseSpecifications
Valid as from the academic year 2024-2025

Auditory Computation, Modelling and Devices (E092970)

Course size
Credits 3.0(nominal values; actual values may depend on programme)
Study time 90 h

Course offerings and teaching methods in academic year 2024-2025
A (semester 2)
EnglishGent

Lecturers in academic year 2024-2025
Verhulst, Sarah

practical
independent work
lectureTW05

Offered in the following programmes in 2024-2025
Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering
Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering

lecturer-in-charge
crdts33offeringAA

Teaching languages
EnglishKeywords
Hearing, Auditory Signal Processing, Auditory Neuroscience, Auditory modelling, Assistive
Device Algorithms (Hearing aids and cochlear implants).
Position of the course
This course covers neuro-engineering approaches to auditory signal processing andneuroscience, which is a core area in biomedical engineering applications that focus on soundperception and assistive hearing technology such as cochlear implants and hearing aids. The
course teaches how the brain processes sound and how these processes can be modelled.
Skills to analyse and design signal processing tools for auditory applications are developed.
The topics range from basic auditory neuroscience to modelling these processes anddeveloping signal processing tools that make use of this information to develop new technology(e.g., MP3, smart-phone apps, hearing-aid algorithms). The course offers hands on experience
with the above concepts and combines lectures with lab exercises on auditory experiments tooffer a comprehensive view of auditory neuro-engineering. With this background, students
become acquainted with signal processing techniques and analysis methods for the fields ofauditory signal processing, hearing technology, auditory brain-computer interfacing and thedevelopment of auditory EEG based techniques for hearing diagnostics.
Contents
1. Physical basis:• General background of auditory neuroscience, sound perception and auditory computation;• Auditory models of perception and computational models of the auditory system;• Signal processing in assistive devices (hearing-aids, cochlear implants);• Auditory EEG: Hearing Diagnostics, brain-computer interface, links between EEG and sound• perception.
2. Application Oriented:• Basics of quantifying sound perception and quality using alternative forced choice• procedures in Python;• Biomedical signal processing techniques and statistics to analyse auditory evoked brain• potentials;• Modelling auditory neuroscience processes and computer hearing (e.g., pre-processing of• speech recognition systems);• Signal processing and sound encoding in assistive devices such as hearing-aids and• cochlear implants;(Approved)1• Hands-on experience with auditory EEG and sound perception experiments.
Initial competences
Signal processing and filtering, basic knowledge of the EEG technique.
Final competences
1 Understand the basics of auditory neuroscience and signal processing. In particular:
1 cochlear transformation, auditory nerve and brainstem encoding principles.
2 Model key auditory features of the auditory system: auditory filter-bank models, and1 functional auditory neuronal models.
3 Be able to identify and apply the signal processing techniques and statistics to analyse
1 auditory biomedical signals (e.g., auditory EEG).
4 A thorough understanding of how signal processing in assistive listening devices is applied.
5 Skills to further develop biomedical technology related to auditory neuroscience and sound1 perception.
Conditions for credit contract
Access to this course unit via a credit contract is determined after successful competences assessment
Conditions for exam contract
This course unit cannot be taken via an exam contract
Teaching methods
Lecture, Practical, Independent work
Extra information on the teaching methods
The lectures will provide the necessary theoretical background to understand the topic, after
which a practicum will be conducted on the same topic. This lab exercise comprises either alab-experiment (e.g., EEG recording, psychophysics sound perception experiment) or computer
simulations of auditory models, assistive hearing device technology. The students need tocomplete the exercises and need to hand in a written report for each of 4 practica.
Study material
NoneReferences
See course material
Course content-related study coachingStudents can make an appointment via email for further explanation of the course and for
feedback on the group work.
Assessment moments
end-of-term and continuous assessment
Examination methods in case of periodic assessment during the first examination period
Oral assessment, Written assessment
Examination methods in case of periodic assessment during the second examination period
Oral assessment, Written assessment
Examination methods in case of permanent assessment
Assignment
Possibilities of retake in case of permanent assessment
examination during the second examination period is possible in modified form
Extra information on the examination methods
Both the exam and report grades will be part of the final grade of this course. At the end of thesemester, there will be an oral open-book exam. The practica are also part of the study
material for the exam. The contribution of individuals during the practica is also taking into
account in the practicum grade.
Calculation of the examination markPeriodic evaluation = 50%
Activities/Reports during the semester = 50%
It is necessary to pass both parts to pass the course.

(Approved)2

(Approved)3