Abstract: An auditory neural interface device for sound perception by an individual that may be used as a hearing aid. The auditory neural interface device includes a receiver configured to receive sound signals, a processor operably connected to the receiver and configured to encode a received sound signal as a multi-channel neurostimulation signal, and a neurostimulation device operably connected to the processor and configured to apply the multi-channel neurostimulation signal to a neurostimulation electrode of the individual. The neurostimulation signal is configured to directly stimulate afferent sensory neurons of the central nervous system of the individual and thereby to elicit, for each channel of the neurostimulation signal, one or more non-auditory, preferably somatosensory, perceptions in a cortex area of the individual. Each channel of the neurostimulation signal is associated with a different non-auditory perception.

Abstract: A computer brain interface (CBI) device of an individual applies a burst sequence of stimulation pulses to afferent sensory nerve fibers to elicit a bioelectric response via a neurostimulation interface operably connected to or integrated with the CBI device. The neurostimulation interface senses the bioelectric responses of the stimulated afferent sensory nerve fibers. The CBI device derives, based on the sensed bioelectric responses, a neural excitability profile characterizing a non-linear, dynamic excitation behavior of the afferent sensory neurons corresponding to the applied sequence of stimulation pulses. At least one stimulation parameter of the current set of stimulation parameters is adjusted based on the derived excitability profile to obtain an updated set of stimulation parameters.