Cochlear electronics can adapt to noise like the human ear

A sensor that works like a human cochlea. Image source: British "New Scientist" website

According to the latest issue of "Nature Electronics" magazine, researchers at the Technical University of Ilmenau in Germany have designed a miniature electronic sensor that can simulate the working mode of the cochlea in the human ear and can be used in hearing aids or microphones. Distinguish sounds in noisy environments. This cochlear device adjusts its sensitivity to specific frequencies based on the volume of sound it receives.

If the wearer is in a busy restaurant, it changes the response of hair cells to the frequencies of sounds emitted by others, allowing the wearer to hear sounds above the background noise.

The researchers say the sensor integrates for the first time the processes by which the inner ear processes sound signals, making it more efficient and faster than previously developed devices.

The sensor, which is about 350 microns long and 150 microns wide, consists of a strip of silicon that converts sound waves into electrical signals of different frequencies. This piece of silicon is connected to an actuator, which changes the way it responds to different frequencies. This means that if someone walks from a quiet office to a noisy street, the sensor can adapt.

However, each sensor can only operate within a small frequency range, so 30 to 60 sensors are needed to cover the range of human hearing, the researchers said.