Beyond the basement membrane:
Central integration in pitch perception, bioengineered hearing, and the predictive brain​

Presentation Overview

Classically, pitch perception has been modeled as a peripheral phenomenon driven by the physical excitation patterns along the tonotopic axis of the cochlear basilar membrane. However, robust pitch perception is fundamentally a complex, central computational process. It requires the neural integration of both place (spectral) and periodicity (temporal) cues distributed dynamically across multiple auditory channels.

This talk explores the journey of pitch processing from sensory encoding to cognitive representation. To interrogate the mechanisms of auditory cue integration, I will present data from hybrid cochlear implant (electro-acoustic stimulation) users. By forcing the auditory system to reconcile low-frequency acoustic inputs (rich in fine temporal periodicity) with high-frequency electrical stimulation (relying almost entirely on place cues), the hybrid CI serves as a unique physiological "stress test" for central auditory fusion.

Ascending the auditory pathway, the presentation will then examine how these integrated signals form the basis for higher-order cognitive phenomena. Utilizing recent electroencephalography (EEG) findings, I will demonstrate that our perception of musical pitch and scale is not merely a passive, bottom-up registration of frequencies. Instead, it is actively governed by dynamic context processing and predictive coding. Ultimately, by bridging clinical bionic hearing with cortical electrophysiology, this talk will highlight the auditory system as a highly active, predictive engine that shapes our perception of sound and music.