phy950 - Audiology and Acoustics (Complete module description)

Attendance: 56 hrs, Self study: 124 hrs

Introductory Acoustics Module

Students acquire theoretical foundations and advanced methods in psychophysics, audiology, and acoustics. They gain skills in the confident and independent application of modern concepts and methods in applied physics.

• Psychophysics and Audiology
  • Physiology: Overview of the auditory system, outer ear, virtual acoustics, middle ear, stapedius reflex, inner ear function, cochlea models, macro and micromechanics of the cochlea, otoacoustic emissions (theory), inner hair cells, auditory nerve, brainstem, tonotopy, binaural wiring, periodicity tuning, cortex (A1), evoked fields (MEG) and potentials (EEG).
  • Audiology: audiogram, BERA, sound conduction and sound perception disorders, tinnitus,
    otoacoustic emissions (diagnostic), stapedius reflex audiometry, impedance audiometry
  • Psychophysics: Perceptual magnitudes, JNDs, Weber-Fechner law, thresholds, signal detection, dprime/ROC, loudness, pitch, Stevens law, temporal and spectral masking, modulation perception, auditory scene analysis, effective signal processing 
• Acoustics
  • Vibrations and waves, physical fundamentals of acoustics, generation and propagation of sound, measurement and evaluation of sound, processing and analysis of acoustic signals, acoustics of voice and speech, speech pathology, sound insulation and damping, room and building acoustics, electroacoustics, musical acoustics, shock waves, selected chapters on acoustics, vibrations, and ultrasound.

• B. Kollmeier: Skriptum Physikalische, technische und medizinische Akustik, Universität Oldenburg;
  H. Kuttruff, Akustik: Eine Einführung, 2004;
  P. Damaske, Acoustics and Hearing, Springer, 2008;
  M. Heckl, G. Müller: Taschenbuch der technischen Akustik, Springer-Verlag, 2012

one or two examination, totaling to 180 min. written exam or 30 min. oral exam