Early working memory changes under auditory load: A predictor of speech-in-noise perception in younger adults

Area of Science:

• Auditory Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Human Aging Research

Background:

• Speech understanding in noise is difficult due to auditory-cognitive interactions.
• Working memory (WM) is crucial for processing auditory information and speech perception.
• Early cognitive decline signs in younger adults are often missed by traditional quiet assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate early changes in working memory (WM) abilities in adults aged 20-40.
• To assess the impact of background noise on WM performance in this age group.
• To explore the relationship between speech perception in noise and WM abilities.

Main Methods:

• Eighty normal-hearing participants were grouped by age (5-year intervals, 20-40 years).
• Participants completed forward digit span, backward digit span, and operation span tasks.
• Speech perception in noise was measured using SNR-50.

Main Results:

• A gradual age-related decline in WM performance was observed.
• Significant WM declines in backward and operation span tasks were noted in the 35-40 age group, especially with background noise.
• Negative correlations between SNR-50 and WM performance were significant in both quiet and noisy conditions.

Conclusions:

• Working memory decline may start earlier than previously thought, particularly in challenging auditory environments.
• Assessing auditory cognition under ecologically valid, noisy conditions is important for detecting early decline.
• Noise increases cognitive load, impairing performance and supporting cognitive load theory.