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Mapping Cortical Dynamics Using Simultaneous MEG/EEG and Anatomically-constrained Minimum-norm Estimates: an Auditory Attention Example
Published on: October 24, 2012
Automatic auditory processing of english words as indexed by the mismatch negativity, using a multiple deviant
Catharine M Pettigrew1, Bruce E Murdoch, Curtis W Ponton
1Division of Speech Pathology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Ear and Hearing
|June 5, 2004
Summary
Mismatch negativity (MMN) responses are elicited by large speech sound changes, not fine ones. Real word deviants showed larger MMN than nonword deviants, suggesting neural traces for words.
Area of Science:
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Speech Perception
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Mismatch negativity (MMN) is an event-related potential reflecting automatic auditory change detection.
- Investigating MMN to speech stimuli is crucial for understanding speech processing in the brain.
- Previous research suggests MMN can be sensitive to acoustic and linguistic features of speech.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine mismatch negativity (MMN) responses to various speech stimuli (/de:/, /ge:/, /deI/, /geI/) using a multiple deviant paradigm.
- To test the hypothesis that all speech contrasts, including fine acoustic differences, elicit MMN.
- To compare MMN amplitudes for real word deviants versus nonword deviants.
Main Methods:
- Ten healthy adults participated in a multiple deviant oddball paradigm.
- Four speech stimuli were presented as standards and deviants across 12 blocks.
- A behavioral discrimination task was also conducted using the same stimuli.
Main Results:
- MMN responses to fine acoustic speech contrasts ([d/g]) were not significant.
- Significant and larger MMN responses were observed for real word deviants presented after nonword standards.
- Responses to nonword deviants among word standards were smaller.
Conclusions:
- MMN can be elicited by speech stimuli with large acoustic deviances in a multiple deviant paradigm.
- MMN responses were sensitive to large acoustic changes but not fine ones in speech.
- Enhanced MMN to real word deviants suggests the presence of neural traces for words, with potential clinical applications for speech processing research.
