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Brain dynamics that correlate with effects of learning on auditory distance perception
Matthew G Wisniewski1, Eduardo Mercado2, Barbara A Church2
1711th Human Performance Wing, U. S. Air Force Research Laboratory Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH, USA ; Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York Buffalo, NY, USA.
Frontiers in Neuroscience
|December 25, 2014
Summary
Listeners improved auditory distance perception with practice, showing a greater learning advantage for familiar forward speech. Brain activity revealed frontal cortical networks support this perceptual learning.
Area of Science:
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Perceptual Learning
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Auditory distance perception accuracy improves with practice.
- Familiarity of sounds influences distance judgment accuracy.
- Speech sound characteristics affect auditory spatial processing.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the impact of training on auditory distance perception for familiar (English, Bengali) and unfamiliar (backwards) speech.
- Identify neural correlates of perceptual learning in auditory distance judgment using electroencephalography (EEG).
- Examine the role of specific brain activity patterns (event-related synchronization/desynchronization) in learning and accuracy.
Main Methods:
- Behavioral testing of auditory distance judgment accuracy before and after training with different speech types.
- Electroencephalography (EEG) recording during pre- and post-training tests.
- Independent Component Analysis (ICA) to identify neural sources and analyze spectral power changes (theta, alpha, beta bands).
Main Results:
- Listeners showed greater accuracy improvements for forward speech compared to backwards speech, indicating a learning advantage.
- EEG analysis revealed distinct neural patterns associated with learning: reduced theta event-related synchronization (ERS) after training, decreased alpha event-related desynchronization (ERD) for familiar speech, and enhanced upper-alpha/low-beta ERS in frontal areas.
- The enhancement in frontal theta/beta ERS positively correlated with behavioral improvements in distance judgment accuracy.
Conclusions:
- Neural dynamics in non-auditory cortical areas are crucial for auditory distance judgments.
- Frontal cortical networks, potentially involved in attention and working memory, play a significant role in the perceptual learning of source distance.
- Speech familiarity and processing direction (forward vs. backward) modulate both behavioral performance and underlying neural mechanisms of auditory spatial learning.
Keywords:
electroencephalography (EEG)event-related spectral perturbation (ERSP)familiarityindependent component analysis (ICA)perceptual learningrangingMore Related Videos
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