Professor Eddington's research is directed at improving the hearing provided the deaf by cochlear implants. These devices deliver electric stimuli to remaining auditory-nerve fibers using electrodes implanted in the inner ear. An external sound processor translates sound to instructions that control the implanted stimulator. The patterns of stimuli delivered to the implanted electrodes determine the sound sensations elicited. Professor Eddington's work includes: (1) using computer models of the implanted inner ear to identify peripheral anatomical and physiological factors that limit performance, (2) using psychophysical measures of performance in implanted human subjects to also identify factors that limit performance and (3) designing and testing new sound-processing strategies to overcome the limiting factors identified in (1) and (2) to produce clearer hearing.
