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Noise-induced increase in human auditory evoked neuromagnetic fields.
Claude Alain1, Jessica Quan, Kelly McDonald
1Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The European Journal of Neuroscience
|June 30, 2009
Summary
Low levels of background noise enhance auditory evoked fields (AEFs), improving the brain's ability to detect sounds and distinguish concurrent sound objects. This suggests noise can benefit auditory processing.
Area of Science:
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Psychoacoustics
- Neurophysiology
Background:
- Noise is typically detrimental to auditory perception.
- However, low levels of broadband noise may improve signal detection.
- Auditory evoked fields (AEFs) reflect neural processing of sound.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of low-level background noise on auditory evoked fields (AEFs).
- To determine if noise facilitates the detection of simple tones and complex sound objects.
- To explore the neural mechanisms underlying noise-induced auditory improvements.
Main Methods:
- Participants passively listened to tones or complex sounds with or without Gaussian noise.
- Auditory evoked fields (AEFs) were measured.
- AEFs were modeled using dipole source analysis in the superior temporal plane.
Main Results:
- The N1m component of AEFs was larger in low-noise conditions compared to no-noise.
- Complex sounds with a mistuned component elicited a larger object-related negativity in low noise.
- Low-level noise facilitated AEFs related to sound onset and object segregation.
Conclusions:
- Low-level background noise enhances auditory evoked responses.
- Noise can be beneficial for auditory perception, particularly for segregating concurrent sound objects.
- Noise-induced facilitation may involve efferent feedback pathways in the auditory system.
