Encoding fine time structure in presence of substantial interaction across an electrode array

1. A cochlear stimulation system comprising:

a processor configured to generate one or more control signals based on a customized stimulation pattern in a cochlear implant implanted in an individual; and

circuitry coupled to the processor, the circuitry configured to apply one or more stimulation currents to one or more selected electrodes of an electrode array associated with a cochlear implant based on the generated one or more control signals;

wherein the customized stimulation pattern is determined based on a test that identifies independence of the one or more selected electrodes, and

wherein the processor and the circuitry are further configured to conduct the test by performing operations that comprises:

applying a first stimulation to the at least a pair of electrodes using a first pair of pulse trains that are in phase;

applying a second stimulation to the at least a pair of electrodes using a second pair of pulse trains that are out of phase; and

determining whether the at least a pair of electrodes stimulate the same neural population based on a sensitivity of the individual to detect a perceived difference between the two pairs of pulse trains.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to selectively stimulating the array of electrodes based on the determination.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the sensitivity using a psychophysical method.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to generate a control signal that controls the circuitry to selectively not stimulate the at least a pair of electrodes when detected that the at least a pair of electrodes stimulate the same neural population.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor and the circuitry are configured to conduct the test by determining an excitation pattern for at least a first electrode and a second electrode selected from the array of electrodes.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the processor is configured to generate one or more control signals that controls the circuitry to perform operation comprising:

apply a masking stimulus and a probing stimulus separated by a time delay to each electrode; and

determine an ability of the individual to distinguish the masking and probing stimuli.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to compare the excitation pattern for the first electrode against the excitation pattern for the second electrode; and

selectively stimulate the array of electrodes based on the comparison.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine the ability of the individual to distinguish the masking and probing stimuli based on a psychophysical method.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the processor is further operable to compare the excitation patterns to determine whether the excitation pattern for the first electrode overlaps with the excitation pattern for the second electrode.

10. The system of claim 6 , wherein the circuitry is further operable to selectively not stimulate the first and second electrodes when the processor detects that the excitation pattern for the first electrode overlaps with the excitation pattern for the second electrode.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor and the circuitry comprises a combined implantable system.