Glossary

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pitch auditory correlate of frequency, subjective response to the physical frequency of the sound waves. In a cochlear implant system, pitch perception is determined in large part by the properties of the nerve fibers that are activated as a result of the frequency-to-electrode assignments – in other words, the place of stimulation in the cochlea.

psychophysics The study and measurement of human perceptions resulting from known acoustic events. In cochlear implant terminology, the measurement of auditory perceptions in response to non-speech stimuli resulting from electrical stimulation of the cochlea is typically called psychophysics. This usually refers to the measurement of threshold and most comfortable listening levels.

pulsatile A sound processing scheme that uses waveforms composed of discrete pulses e.g. CIS strategy

pulse delivery of a constant current for a defined period of time (pulsewidth). CLARION implants use a discrete square-shaped biphasic wave.

pure tone A tone or note that has only one frequency – that is, a sine wave with no harmonics or overtones.

pure tone average the average of the sensitivity levels typically measured at 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz (three frequency average).