The Auditory Image Model of Peripheral Auditory Processing

Software Packages for AIM

aim2009: AIM-C - a C++ version of AIM for realtime and batch processing (in active development)
aim2006: a matlab version of AIM to facilitate auditory model development
aim2003: The previous release of the matlab version of AIM
aim2000: a C version of AIM for DSAM/AMS for batch processing sounds
aim1992: the original version of AIM for historical reference (Unix machines only)
  We have developed a time-domain model of auditory processing to simulate the auditory images we hear when presented with complex sounds like music, speech, bird songs, engines, etc.* The Auditory Image is constructed in three stages:
  • An auditory filterbank is used to perform a spectral analysis a sound wave and convert into a simulation of the basilar membrane motion (BMM) that the sound would produce in the cochlea.
  • A bank of haircell simulators is used to convert the BMM into a simulation of the Neural Activity Pattern (NAP) that the sound would produce at the level of the auditory nerve or cochlear nucleus.
  • Finally, a form of Strobed Temporal Integration (STI) is applied to each channel of the NAP to stabilize any repeating patterns in the NAP and convert it into a simulation of our auditory image of the sound.
The NAP includes 'phase-locking' information encoded by the inner haircells because it is assumed that this information plays an important role in auditory perception and speech perception. STI performs temporal integration without destroying the phase-locking information of regular sounds -- the phase locking information that we hear. Thus, AIM is a time-domain auditory model for studying the role of phase locking and temporal fine-structure in auditory perception. Sequences of auditory images can be replayed to produce cartoons of auditory events that illustrate the dynamic response of the auditory system to everyday sounds.
* Note that the 'auditory images' constructed by AIM are meant to represent our initial sensations or perceptions of a sound rather than images of past events recalled from memory.
The main concepts of AIM are described in:

Patterson, R.D., Robinson, K., Holdsworth, J., McKeown, D., Zhang, C. and Allerhand M. (1992) 'Complex sounds and auditory images', In: Auditory physiology and perception, Proceedings of the 9h International Symposium on Hearing, Y Cazals, L. Demany, K. Horner (eds), Pergamon, Oxford, 429-446.

Roy D. Patterson, Mike H. Allerhand and Christian Giguere (1995). Time-domain modelling of peripheral auditory processing: A modular architecture and a software platform, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. vol 98, 1890-1894. (pdf) and

Patterson, R.D. (2000). "Auditory images: How complex sounds are represented in the auditory system," J Acoust Soc Japan(E) 21 (4), 183-190 (pdf)

aim2003 is referred to as aim-mat. It was written by Stefan Bleeck at the CNBH in Cambridge with Roy Patterson. It has a matlab GUI and a web based manual. It can make matlab/QuickTime movies with synchronous sound to demonstrate the dynamic properties of the auditory image.
  • aim2003 has its own webpage here

 
aim2000 is referred to as AMS/AIM. It was written by Lowel O'Mard at the CNBH in Essex with Roy Patterson. It runs on a platform referred to as DSAM and it has a GUI. It has the latest cell models of the Ray Meddis and colleagues. There are versions for Unix, Linux and Windows, and it can be run from Matlab. If you simply want a manual and the AMS/AIM executable for MS Windows, go to DSAM/AMS/AIM and click on Download Software. Pickup the files AIMxxx.exe and DSAMHelpxxx.exe from the leftmost column of the 'Binary Installations' section. They come with an installation wizard and an initial demonstration.
  • aim2000 has its own webpage here

 
aim1992 is referred to as 'original' AIM. It was written by John Holdsworth and Mike Allerhand at the MRC APU with Roy Patterson, beginning in 1985 and ending in 1997 with aimR8.2. It has a 'physiological' option with a transmission-line filterbank by Christian Giguere that propagates distortion products as in the cochlea. The software still compiles on some Unix machines and the documentation is still useful. You are welcome to try it, but it does not work on PCs or Macs and we can no longer provide support for users. It is this package that is described in Patterson et al. (1995).
  • aim1992 has its own webpage here