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Preterm EEG: A Multimodal Neurophysiological Protocol
Published on: February 18, 2012
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The frequency-following response in late preterm neonates: a pilot study
Teresa Ribas-Prats1,2,3, Sonia Arenillas-Alcón1,2,3, Silvia Irene Ferrero Martínez3,4
1Brainlab-Cognitive Neuroscience Research Group. Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Frontiers in Psychology
|May 24, 2024
Summary
Premature birth impacts neural speech processing, causing delayed responses and weaker fundamental frequency (F0) encoding in neonates. These auditory alterations are linked to prematurity, not the fine temporal structure of speech.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Speech Science
Background:
- Infants born very preterm face significant risks for language delays.
- The effects of late prematurity on neural speech processing are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare the neural encoding of speech sounds in late preterm neonates versus those born at term.
- To characterize potential differences in auditory processing related to gestational age.
Main Methods:
- Speech-evoked frequency-following response (FFR) was recorded in neonates.
- Stimulus used was a consonant-vowel sound /da/.
- Participants included preterm (GA 36.05 wks), early term (GA 38.3 wks), and late term (GA 41.01 wks) neonates.
Main Results:
- Premature neonates exhibited delayed neural responses compared to term-born neonates.
- A weaker encoding of the stimulus fundamental frequency (F0) was observed in premature infants.
- No significant differences were found in response onset or F0 encoding between early term and late term groups.
- Neural encoding of temporal fine structure of speech did not differ across groups.
Conclusions:
- Prematurity is associated with alterations in the neural processing of speech, specifically affecting fundamental frequency encoding.
- The temporal fine structure of speech is processed similarly across preterm and term-born neonates.
- Findings underscore the neural consequences of prematurity on early auditory development.
