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Finding the missing stimulus mismatch negativity (MMN): emitted MMN to violations of an auditory gestalt

Dean F Salisbury1

  • 1Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts 02478, USA. dean_salisbury@hms.harvard.edu

Psychophysiology
|January 7, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Auditory mismatch negativity (MMN) can be detected even when a sound is omitted, not just when it deviates. This study shows missing sounds in patterned auditory stimuli elicit MMN, challenging previous assumptions.

Area of Science:

  • Auditory neuroscience
  • Cognitive psychology
  • Electroencephalography (EEG)

Background:

  • Mismatch negativity (MMN) is an electrophysiological response to auditory deviations.
  • Traditionally, MMN is not observed for omitted stimuli.
  • Complex rule violations can elicit MMN.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if omitted auditory stimuli can elicit MMN.
  • To explore the role of auditory gestalt perception in MMN.
  • To test MMN generation with missing elements in patterned stimuli.

Main Methods:

  • An auditory gestalt task was designed using groups of six pips with a 330 ms stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA).
  • Participants (n=16) viewed silent videos during stimulus presentation.
  • Deviant trials featured omissions of the 4th or 6th pip, while standard trials had all six pips.

Main Results:

  • A significant MMN was evoked by the omission of stimuli (p<.05).
  • Missing 4th (-0.8 µV) and 6th (-1.1 µV) pips elicited more negative MMN than standard 6th pips (0.3 µV).
  • This suggests MMN can be elicited by omissions in patterned auditory sequences.

Conclusions:

  • MMN can be elicited by missing auditory stimuli, particularly within patterned sequences violating gestalt rules.
  • Long SOAs and pattern violations are key factors in eliciting MMN to omissions.
  • Patterned stimuli are more sensitive to omissions and intertrial interval variations than homogenous streams.

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