[Comparative study of auditory event-related potentials evoked by different Chinese speech stimuli]

To research the responsibility and mechanism of auditory event-related potentials (AERP) evoked by pure-tone and different Chinese speech (including single-syllable words, two-syllable words and munbers) stimuli respectively. Meanwhile, to explore feasibility of using different Chinese speech forms as stimulation to evoke AERP in Chinese people.

AERPs were measured in 37 young normal post-graduated students (70 ears) with pure-tone and three different Chinese speech forms as stimuli. The mean incidence rates, latencies and amplitudes of AERPs were analyzed, the waveforms of AERPs were quantitatively scored. Then all data were statistically analyzed and compared.

The typical wave P1, N1, P2, N2 and P3 of AERPs could be recorded by both pure-tone and three different Chinese speech stimuli, in which the Chinese two-syllable word was most likely to evoked AERP than pure-tone and remains of Chinese speech forms, and the differences were statistical significance (Chi2 = 0.046, P < 0.05). The quantitative scores and amplitudes of P3 evoked by pure-tone and three different Chinese speech stimuli were analyzed in 56 ears, whose results showed no significant difference (P > 0.05) among different stimuli. However, the waveforms of AERPs were smoother and much satisfied evoked by Chinese character and two-syllable word than pure-tone and Chinese number stimuli. The latencies of P3 evoked by number stimulus were significant longer than by other stimuli (P < 0.05). Nevertheless, the latencies of P3 were no significant differences among the other stimuli (P > 0.05).

Besides pure-tone and Chinese single-syllable words, other Chinese speech such as two-syllable words and numbers could be used to evoke AERP with satisfied waveform, which indicated that the Chinese character, two-syllable words and numbers were available to apply for AERP measurement as stimuli for Chinese people.