Neural Delays in Processing Speech in Background Noise Minimized after Short-Term Auditory Training

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Auditory Neuroscience
• Speech Processing

Background:

• Background noise negatively impacts auditory processing, causing delays in neural responses.
• Cognitive auditory training (LACE) previously enhanced neural synchrony to speech fundamental frequency (F0) in noise.
• The effect of auditory training on the latency of auditory-evoked responses in noise was unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if short-term auditory training impacts the latency of the frequency-following response (FFR) in young adults.
• To determine if training leads to faster neural timing in noisy listening conditions.

Main Methods:

• 55 healthy young adults participated, with FFRs measured before and after an 8-week period.
• Participants received either computerized auditory training (LACE) or served as controls.
• FFRs were elicited by "da" syllable at +10 dB SNR against multi-talker noise.

Main Results:

• Control group showed no change in FFR latency at retest.
• The auditory training group exhibited significantly earlier FFR latencies after training.
• These improvements were observed in both native and non-native English speakers.

Conclusions:

• Cognitive-based auditory training can enhance neural timing in adults.
• Auditory training effectively reduces response latencies in the FFR for noisy environments.
• This suggests auditory training improves the adult nervous system's processing of speech in challenging acoustic conditions.