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The Lateralization of Speech-Brain Coupling Is Differentially Modulated by Intrinsic Auditory and Top-Down Mechanisms
M F Assaneo1, J M Rimmele2, J Orpella1
1Department of Psychology, New York University, New York, NY, United States.
Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience
|August 6, 2019
Summary
The right hemisphere typically tracks speech sounds better, but this brain asymmetry disappears under specific conditions. This suggests top-down brain signals can override the usual rightward dominance in auditory processing.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Auditory Perception
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Auditory processing, including speech and music, shows significant brain lateralization, particularly in the auditory cortex.
- The Asymmetric Sampling in Time (AST) theory posits that the right auditory cortex is more sensitive to syllable-rate temporal modulations.
- Previous research generally supports AST, observing rightward dominance in auditory entrainment, though findings show some heterogeneity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the conditions under which the predicted rightward dominance in auditory processing, as per AST, diminishes or vanishes.
- To propose a modified version of the AST hypothesis that accounts for speech processing demands and individual brain differences.
- To explore the interplay between intrinsic auditory mechanisms and top-down control in auditory speech envelope tracking.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of existing experimental data and theoretical modeling of auditory processing.
- Comparison of brain activity patterns under varying listening conditions (speech vs. non-speech) and processing demands.
- Integration of recent findings on dual mechanisms for auditory speech envelope tracking.
Main Results:
- The typical rightward dominance in auditory sampling asymmetry disappears under specific processing demands.
- Evidence suggests that top-down signals from non-auditory brain regions can modulate or override the intrinsic right-hemisphere advantage.
- Individual brain structural/functional differences may also influence the degree of lateralization observed.
Conclusions:
- The AST theory needs refinement to fully explain speech processing, incorporating the influence of top-down control.
- Auditory sampling asymmetry is not absolute and can be modulated by task demands and neural network interactions.
- Future research should further explore the dynamic interplay between bottom-up and top-down processes in auditory lateralization.
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