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Updated: Jul 16, 2026
07:14
A Method to Study Adaptation to Left-Right Reversed Audition
Published on: October 29, 2018
Functional integration across brain regions improves speech perception under adverse listening conditions
Jonas Obleser1, Richard J S Wise, M Alex Dresner
1Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London WC1N 3AR, United Kingdom. j.obleser@ucl.ac.uk
Summary
This study shows that semantic context aids speech perception, especially when acoustic signals are degraded. Increased connectivity in brain regions like the left angular gyrus improves comprehension.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Psycholinguistics
Background:
- Speech perception relies on processing acoustic details and semantic context.
- The interplay between acoustic signal clarity and semantic predictability in speech comprehension is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neural basis of the interaction between acoustic and semantic factors in speech perception.
- To determine how spectral degradation and semantic predictability influence brain activity and functional connectivity during speech comprehension.
Main Methods:
- Event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was employed.
- Two speech manipulations were used: spectral degradation (acoustic) and semantic predictability (cognitive).
- Brain activity and functional connectivity were analyzed in relation to speech comprehension performance.
Main Results:
- Higher semantic predictability significantly improved comprehension, particularly at intermediate spectral degradation levels.
- Increased activity and functional connectivity were observed in the left angular gyrus, medial and left lateral prefrontal cortices, and posterior cingulate gyrus with higher predictability.
- Activity in the superior temporal sulci and left inferior frontal gyrus correlated with spectral detail, independent of predictability.
Conclusions:
- Enhanced functional connectivity between high-order cortical areas supports speech comprehension under acoustic challenges.
- The brain flexibly integrates acoustic information with semantic context to overcome degraded speech signals.
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