Neal F. Viemeister, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Psychology E-mail: nfv@umn.edu Psychoacoustics Lab

Research Interests:

A major focus our research is to relate basic aspects of human auditory perception to auditory physiology. An example is our continuing work on the “dynamic range problem”- how useful auditory perception over a huge dynamic range (120 dB) is mediated by auditory nerve fibers whose dynamic range typically is restricted to 30 dB. Our behavioral research on this fundamental problem has led to the development of provocative computational models of multiple aspects of auditory processing. We also have continuing research projects on other basic aspects of audition. These include projects on temporal processing, binaural hearing, pitch coding , and speech perception.

Most of our experimental research involves behavioral studies on persons with normal hearing. We also have collaborative research projects on the perceptual consequences of hearing loss and on the basic auditory capabilities of persons with cochlear implants. One goal of these projects is the development and refinement of auditory prosthetic devices. Another goal is to use these “abnormal” auditory systems to provide insights into normal auditory processing. Overall, the general goal of our research is to understand the biology and psychology of hearing.

More information about our current research

Selected Publications:

Stellmack MA, Viemeister NF, Byrne AJ. Forward-masked monaural and interaural intensity discrimination. J Acoust Soc Am. 2007 Sep;122(3):1328.

Stellmack MA, Viemeister NF, Byrne AJ. Discrimination of depth of sinusoidal amplitude modulation with and without roved carrier levels. J Acoust Soc Am. 2006 Jan;119(1):37-40.

Stellmack MA, Viemeister NF, Byrne AJ. Comparing monaural and interaural temporal windows: effects of a temporal fringe on sensitivity to intensity differences. J Acoust Soc Am. 2005 Nov;118(5):3218-28.

Wojtczak M, Viemeister NF. Forward masking of amplitude modulation: basic characteristics. J Acoust Soc Am. 2005 Nov;118(5):3198-210.

Stellmack MA, Viemeister NF, Byrne AJ. Monaural and interaural temporal modulation transfer functions measured with 5-kHz carriers. J Acoust Soc Am. 2005 Oct;118(4):2507-18.

Stellmack MA, Viemeister NF, Byrne AJ. Discrimination of interaural phase differences in the envelopes of sinusoidally amplitude-modulated 4-kHz tones as a function of modulation depth. J Acoust Soc Am. 2005 Jul;118(1):346-52.

Stellmack MA, Viemeister NF, Byrne AJ. Monaural and interaural intensity discrimination: level effects and the "binaural advantage". J. Acoust Soc Am. 2004 Aug;116(2):1149-59.

More publications

Recent Graduate Students

Elizabeth Strickland (Ph.D. Psychology, 1994). Assistant Professor, Department of Audiology and Speech Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

Alberto Recio (Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering, 1994). Research Associate, Department of Neurophysiology, University Of Wisconsin, Madison, WI