Re: Please keep out the OT junk -- what is the most efficient way to directly convert electricity to sound?

Karl wrote:
"Green Xenon [Radium]" <glucegen1@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:47890637$0$7131$4c368faf@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Richard Crowley wrote:



It likely takes microwatts of electrical energy
to directly stimulate nerves in the brain. I
would call that likely the most "efficient"
possible method of perceiving electrically-
modulated "sound".

I agree, that would be the most efficient. However, just when do you think such miraculous technology will be available?

Cochlear implants exist now. Fidelity is not great. Personally, I find the cyborg factor a bit creepy.



I would be nice to design an electronic auditory system that is an electronic-equivalent of the parts of the human brain involved in auditory perception. This device needs to know exactly how the brain works in terms of auditory perception. This equipment should be able to generate the intended audio perception within the brain itself even in an individual who was totally-deaf from the point of conception onwards due to a congenital absence of peripheral auditory nerves. Such a device would electronically generate sound perception -- within the brain itself -- in a similar manner in which auditory hallucinations and audio perceptions in dreams occur.

In around 1970 Pat Flanagan invented the Neurophone. I have read about the neurophone which claims to produce high-quality [and beyond natural] auditory perception through nerve stimulation. This is a whole bunch of crap. No one with half a brain cell is going to believe such
garbage when science proves that it’s impossible using today's technology. Hell, a weight-loss ad selling rich chocolate is more credible than this nonsense.

OTOH, science proves that temporal bone vibration can be used to cause auditory pseudohallucinations.

Check out: http://www.priory.com/halluc.htm#pseudo

"Radio-reception. A 35 year old Vietnam combat, veteran (32) started to complain of depression, headaches, and hearing blurred voices and music. Skull X-rays showed shrapnel metallic densities in the soft tissues and cranial bones of the left parieto-occipital region. His perception of voices and music were matched with stations in the AM broadcast band, and consistently identified the same station in the 560 Khz range. His radio-reception involved the metal implant diode rectification of the radio signal, and its bone transmission to the auditory apparatus. Other cases of broadcast reception due to dental work have been reported as well."

The above pseudohallucination is no surprise to me and not at all fascinating.

Cochlear implants stimulate the peripheral auditory nerve-endings in the cochlea. Electric signals excite these nerve endings. The neurophone is said to work differently -- by using electric signals on any nerve in the body. At a specific frequency this is supposed to stimulate the auditory areas of the brain. This, according to Flantech, causes a perception of sound. This too good to be true.

Links about neurophone:

1. http://www.neurophone.com/home.htm

2. http://www.worldtrans.org/spir/neuro.html

OTOH, I am discussing the induction of auditory perceptions in individuals who are deaf due to a congenital absence of peripheral auditory nerves. Generating such perceptions would require stimulation of the correct parts of the brain using the correct electronic signals. The locations where the electronic signals are applied as well as the waveforms of the electronic signals are equally important.

The audio in our dreams/auditory-hallucinations is due to certain areas of the brain being activated and thus causing the perceptions of sounds. I suppose it is theoretically-possible to generate these perceptions by stimulating those regions of the brain with the correct waveform of electronic signals. This should work even on a full-blown adult who was conceived without any peripheral auditory nerves.

Electronically-induced auditory hallucinations.

As said above, the content of the audio perceived by the subject is determined by where -- in the brain -- the electronic signals are delivered and the shapes of the electronic waves.

The auditory hallucinations one perceives -- in dreams or otherwise -- are due certain regions of his/her brain being stimulated in a certain manner.

That being said, I believe it should be possible to simulate these auditory hallucinations/dreams using electronic waves even in a complete adult who is totally-deaf because he/she was congenitally-free of any peripheral auditory nerves.
.

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