Digital filter simulation of the basilar membrane

Abstract

This paper describes a digital filter simulation of basilar membrane vibration, in which the cochlea is represented as a cascade of 128 filters. The parameters of each filter are determined from the mechanical characteristics of the basilar membrane at corresponding points. Using this model, it is possible to simulate, at each point, the waveform of the sound pressure in the cochlear fluid, as well as the deflection of the membrane itself. A significant advantage of this practical model is that the computation time is considerably shortened in comparison with other similar models and it thus has application as a front-end processor in speech recognition systems. This work can be used as a basis for developing a cochlear model which includes active elements in the cochlea in line with the most recent findings in this field. © 1989.