Cochlear Implants: bridging the gap between computational model and clinic

Abstract

The work of this thesis was to develop and use such a computational model to offer insight into the working mechanisms of cochlear implant stimulation and to enable virtual experiments that would be unfeasible or outright impossible in real life. The model that was used for this thesis was not built from scratch but was an updated and expanded version of the one developed at Leiden University Medical Centre by Johan H.M. Frijns and Jeroen J. Briaire. In essence, this thesis forms a continuation of their PhD work.

The general goals of each of the modelling studies presented in this thesis were:

(I) To improve the accuracy of the Leiden computational cochlear implant model to gain a better understanding of cochlear implant-induced hearing.

(II) Where possible, validate the model using available data from electrophysiological or psychophysical experiments. (III) To use the model to offer predictions that may help to improve the function or design of cochlear implants in the future.