How brains filter the signal from the noise

When you are waiting with a friend to cross a busy intersection, car engines running, horns honking and the city humming all around you, your brain is busy processing all those sounds. Somehow, though, the human auditory system can filter out the extraneous noise and allow you to hear what your friend is telling you. But if you tried to ask your iPhone a question, Siri might have a tougher time.

A new study shows how the mammalian brain can distinguish the signal from the noise. Brain cells in the primary auditory cortex can both turn down the noise and increase the gain on the signal. The results show how the brain processes sound in noisy environments, and might eventually help in the development of better voice recognition devices, including improvements to cochlear implants for those with hearing loss. Not to mention getting Siri to understand you on a chaotic street corner.

Seems pretty cool on how something man made is not up to par yet with Allah’s creation. When something mimicking the capabilities of a human comes around is the day I will be very afraid.

For your reading pleasure: https://www.sciencenews.org/blog/scicurious/how-brains-filter-signal-noise

Re: How brains filter the signal from the noise

Very interesting. Looks like brain can adjust S/N ratio when noise is not Hum an voice. Cause at work I have to shut the door and play music to drown out voices in the hallway or from adjacent offices.

How did they do the study? Imaged the brain? Or monitored some sort of electrical signals from the brain?

TLK will be happy God was brought into the discussion.

Re: How brains filter the signal from the noise

^ I kid TLK. He is funda man.

Anyway the COSMOS series is a revelation. There is so much amazing stuff right hear in our planet. Mind blowing. Can appreciate the marvels of the inner workings of our brain more after watching the series.

Re: How brains filter the signal from the noise

A very interesting read. Could it be that our eyes also help achieve this focus. Because the senses are sort of connected together and when we are looking at our friend or focusing on them , we hear their voice before we hear things in the background ..