A biologically orientated algorithm for spatial sound segregation
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Date
2022
Authors
Chou, Kenny F.
Best, Virginia
Colburn, H. Steven
Sen, Kamal
Version
Published version
OA Version
Citation
K. Chou, V. Best, H.S. Colburn, K. Sen. 2022. "A biologically orientated algorithm for spatial sound segregation." Frontiers in Neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2022.1004071
Abstract
Listening in an acoustically cluttered scene remains a difficult task for both machines and hearing-impaired listeners. Normal-hearing listeners accomplish this task with relative ease by segregating the scene into its constituent sound sources, then selecting and attending to a target source. An assistive listening device that mimics the biological mechanisms underlying this behavior may provide an effective solution for those with difficulty listening in acoustically cluttered environments (e.g., a cocktail party). Here, we present a binaural sound segregation algorithm based on a hierarchical network model of the auditory system. In the algorithm, binaural sound inputs first drive populations of neurons tuned to specific spatial locations and frequencies. The spiking response of neurons in the output layer are then reconstructed into audible waveforms via a novel reconstruction method. We evaluate the performance of the algorithm with a speech-on-speech intelligibility task in normal-hearing listeners. This two-microphone-input algorithm is shown to provide listeners with perceptual benefit similar to that of a 16-microphone acoustic beamformer. These results demonstrate the promise of this biologically inspired algorithm for enhancing selective listening in challenging multi-talker scenes.
Description
License
© 2022 Chou, Boyd, Best, Colburn and Sen. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.