Modelling the neural response to speech: stochastic resonance and coding of vowel-like stimuli

Abstract — We study the effect of noise upon the transmission of information about an input signal containing two frequencies in a leaky integrate-and-fire neural model. This work extends the results of earlier studies on stochastic resonance in neural models, and particularly in models of auditory processing. It is found that the temporal coding of two sub-threshold formants can be enhanced by the presence of noise. This study provides an approximation to the response to vowel speech stimuli and the results have a bearing upon the possible effectiveness of incorporating noise in cochlear implant speech coding strategies. Keywords—Neural coding, stochastic resonance, Integrateand-fire neurons, speech. I