Elucidation of peripheral mechanisms of bone-conducted ultrasonic perception for the development of a novel hearing aid for the profoundly hearing impaired

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26282130
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Biomedical engineering/Biomaterial science and engineering
• Research Institution: Chiba University (2016); National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (2014-2015)
• Principal Investigator: Nakagawa Seiji 千葉大学, フロンティア医工学センター, 教授 (70357614)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 添田 喜治 国立研究開発法人産業技術総合研究所, バイオメディカル研究部門, 主任研究員 (10415698) ; 西村 忠己 奈良県立医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (60364072) ; 細井 裕司 奈良県立医科大学, 医学部, 理事長・学長 (80094613)
• Research Collaborator: OTSUKA Asuka 国立研究開発法人情報通信研究機構, 研究員 ; IMADA Toshiaki University of Washington, Institute for Learning& Brain Sciences, Director of Language Neuroimaging Lab. ; KUHL Patricia K. University of Washington, Institute for Learning&Brain Sciences, Co-Director ; MELTZOFF Andrew N. University of Washington, Institute for Learning& Brain Sciences, Co-Director
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 骨伝導 / 超音波 / 聴覚 / 知覚メカニズム / 補聴器 / 重度難聴

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Bone-conducted ultrasound (BCU) can be perceived even by the profoundly hearing impaired who cannot use conventional hearing aids. However, mechanisms of the BCU perception, especially the peripheral mechanisms remain unclear. In order to obtain useful information for the development of a novel hearing aid for the profoundly hearing impaired using BCU, we investigated the mechanisms of BCU perception from the periphery to the central nervous system. Psychological characteristics, neurophysiological responses, and the wave propagation property in the inner head were measured. Also, based on results of these measurements, the perception model of BCU perception was proposed. The results obtained provide useful information to optimize the BCU hearing aid and to establish its application guideline.

Free Research Field

生体医工学