Human
speech
is
a
particularly
relevant
acoustic
stimulus
for
our
species,
due
to
its
role
of
information
transmission
during
communication.
Speech
inherently
dynamic
signal,
and
recent
line
research
focused
on
neural
activity
following
the
temporal
structure
speech.
We
review
findings
that
characterise
dynamics
in
processing
compare
them
with
aspects
human
highlight
properties
constraints
both
have,
suggesting
auditory
systems
are
optimised
process
then
discuss
speech-specificity
their
potential
mechanistic
origins,
summarise
open
questions
field.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
Год журнала:
2023,
Номер
120(49)
Опубликована: Ноя. 30, 2023
Neural
speech
tracking
has
advanced
our
understanding
of
how
brains
rapidly
map
an
acoustic
signal
onto
linguistic
representations
and
ultimately
meaning.
It
remains
unclear,
however,
intelligibility
is
related
to
the
corresponding
neural
responses.
Many
studies
addressing
this
question
vary
level
by
manipulating
waveform,
but
makes
it
difficult
cleanly
disentangle
effects
from
underlying
acoustical
confounds.
Here,
using
magnetoencephalography
recordings,
we
study
measures
while
keeping
acoustics
strictly
unchanged.
Acoustically
identical
degraded
stimuli
(three-band
noise-vocoded,
~20
s
duration)
are
presented
twice,
second
presentation
preceded
original
(nondegraded)
version
speech.
This
intermediate
priming,
which
generates
a
"pop-out"
percept,
substantially
improves
passage.
We
investigate
structure
affect
multivariate
temporal
response
functions
(mTRFs).
As
expected,
behavioral
results
confirm
that
perceived
clarity
improved
priming.
mTRFs
analysis
reveals
auditory
(speech
envelope
onset)
not
affected
priming
only
(bottom-up
driven).
Critically,
findings
suggest
segmentation
sounds
into
words
emerges
with
better
intelligibility,
most
strongly
at
later
(~400
ms
latency)
word
processing
stage,
in
prefrontal
cortex,
line
engagement
top-down
mechanisms
associated
Taken
together,
show
may
provide
some
objective
comprehension.
eNeuro,
Год журнала:
2023,
Номер
10(7), С. ENEURO.0075 - 23.2023
Опубликована: Июль 1, 2023
Speech
comprehension
is
a
complex
neural
process
on
which
relies
activation
and
integration
of
multiple
brain
regions.
In
the
current
study,
we
evaluated
whether
speech
can
be
investigated
by
tracking.
Neural
tracking
phenomenon
in
responses
time-lock
to
rhythm
specific
features
continuous
speech.
These
acoustic,
i.e.,
acoustic
tracking,
or
derived
from
content
using
language
properties,
We
differs
between
comprehensible
story,
an
incomprehensible
word
list.
19
participants
(six
men).
No
significant
difference
regarding
was
found.
However,
only
found
for
story.
The
most
prominent
effect
visible
surprisal,
feature
at
level.
response
surprisal
showed
negativity
300
400
ms,
similar
N400
evoked
paradigms.
This
significantly
more
negative
when
story
comprehended,
words
could
integrated
context
previous
words.
results
show
that
capture
comprehension.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
unknown
Опубликована: Март 28, 2024
Abstract
Neural
tracking
of
the
low-frequency
temporal
envelope
speech
has
emerged
as
a
prominent
tool
to
investigate
neural
mechanisms
natural
processing
in
brain.
However,
there
is
ongoing
debate
regarding
functional
role
tracking.
In
this
context,
our
study
aims
offer
novel
perspective
by
investigating
critical
brain
areas
and
behavioral
skills
required
for
aphasia,
language
disorder
characterized
impaired
We
analyzed
an
EEG
dataset
39
individuals
with
post-stroke
aphasia
suffering
left-hemispheric
stroke
who
listened
speech.
Our
analysis
involved
lesion
mapping,
where
left
lesioned
voxels
served
binary
features
predict
measures.
also
examined
correlates
receptive
language,
naming,
auditory
(via
rise
time
discrimination
task)
skills.
The
mapping
revealed
that
lesions
areas,
such
middle
gyrus,
supramarginal
gyrus
angular
were
associated
poorer
Additionally,
was
related
(receptive
naming)
effects
on
less
robust,
possibly
due
ceiling
scores.
findings
highlight
importance
central
implicated
understanding,
extending
beyond
primary
cortex,
emphasize
intact
abilities
effectively
Collectively,
these
underscore
significance
mere
audibility
acoustic
processes.
Significance
statement
While
some
studies
have
proposed
primarily
relates
processes,
others
suggested
its
involvement
actual
comprehension.
By
essential
we
argue
broader
processing.
Furthermore,
specificity
among
indicating
correlation
regions
functions.
This
addresses
significant
heterogeneity
characteristics
present
suggests
potential
EEG-based
specifically
assessing
population.
European Journal of Neuroscience,
Год журнала:
2023,
Номер
59(3), С. 394 - 414
Опубликована: Дек. 27, 2023
Abstract
Human
speech
is
a
particularly
relevant
acoustic
stimulus
for
our
species,
due
to
its
role
of
information
transmission
during
communication.
Speech
inherently
dynamic
signal,
and
recent
line
research
focused
on
neural
activity
following
the
temporal
structure
speech.
We
review
findings
that
characterise
dynamics
in
processing
continuous
acoustics
allow
us
compare
these
with
aspects
human
highlight
properties
constraints
both
have,
suggesting
auditory
systems
are
optimised
process
then
discuss
speech‐specificity
their
potential
mechanistic
origins
summarise
open
questions
field.
Neurobiology of Language,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
5(2), С. 484 - 496
Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2024
Abstract
Cortical
tracking,
the
synchronization
of
brain
activity
to
linguistic
rhythms
is
a
well-established
phenomenon.
However,
its
nature
has
been
heavily
contested:
Is
it
purely
epiphenomenal
or
does
play
fundamental
role
in
speech
comprehension?
Previous
research
used
intelligibility
manipulations
examine
this
topic.
Here,
we
instead
varied
listeners’
language
comprehension
skills
while
keeping
auditory
stimulus
constant.
To
do
so,
tested
22
native
English
speakers
and
Spanish/Catalan
bilinguals
learning
as
second
(SL)
an
EEG
cortical
entrainment
experiment
correlated
responses
with
magnitude
N400
component
semantic
task.
As
expected,
listeners
effectively
tracked
sentential,
phrasal,
syllabic
structures.
In
contrast,
SL
exhibited
limitations
tracking
sentential
structures
but
successfully
phrasal
rhythms.
Importantly,
amplitude
neural
detection
incongruities
SLs,
showing
direct
connection
between
ability
understand
speech.
Together,
these
findings
shed
light
on
interplay
identify
principle
for
comprehension.
During
continuous
speech
perception,
endogenous
neural
activity
becomes
time-locked
to
acoustic
stimulus
features,
such
as
the
amplitude
envelope.
This
speech–brain
coupling
can
be
decoded
using
non-invasive
brain
imaging
techniques,
including
electroencephalography
(EEG).
Neural
decoding
may
provide
clinical
use
an
objective
measure
of
encoding
by
brain—for
example
during
cochlear
implant
listening,
wherein
signal
is
severely
spectrally
degraded.
Yet,
interplay
between
and
linguistic
factors
lead
top-down
modulation
thereby
complicating
audiological
applications.
To
address
this
ambiguity,
we
assess
envelope
under
spectral
degradation
with
EEG
in
acoustically
hearing
listeners
(
n
=
38;
18–35
years
old)
vocoded
speech.
We
dissociate
sensory
from
higher-order
processing
employing
intelligible
(English)
non-intelligible
(Dutch)
stimuli,
auditory
attention
sustained
a
repeated-phrase
detection
task.
Subject-specific
group
decoders
were
trained
reconstruct
held-out
data,
decoder
significance
determined
via
random
permutation
testing.
Whereas
reconstruction
did
not
vary
resolution,
was
associated
better
accuracy
general.
Results
similar
across
subject-specific
analyses,
less
consistent
effects
decoding.
Permutation
tests
revealed
possible
differences
statistical
experimental
condition.
In
general,
while
robust
observed
at
individual
level,
variability
within
participants
would
most
likely
prevent
differentiate
levels
intelligibility
on
basis.
European Journal of Neuroscience,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
unknown
Опубликована: Дек. 9, 2024
Abstract
Binaural
unmasking
is
a
remarkable
phenomenon
that
it
substantially
easier
to
detect
signal
in
noise
when
the
interaural
parameters
of
are
different
from
those
–
useful
mechanism
so‐called
cocktail
party
scenarios.
In
this
study,
we
investigated
effect
binaural
on
neural
tracking
speech
envelope.
We
measured
EEG
8
participants
who
listened
at
fixed
signal‐to‐noise
ratio,
two
conditions:
one
where
and
had
same
phase
difference
(both
having
an
opposite
waveform
across
ears,
SπNπ
),
was
(only
SπN
).
clear
benefit
behavioural
understanding
scores,
accompanied
by
increased
Moreover,
analysing
temporal
response
functions
revealed
also
resulted
decreased
peak
latencies
amplitudes.
Our
results
consistent
with
previous
research
using
auditory
evoked
potentials
steady‐state
responses
quantify
cortical
levels.
they
confirm
associated
understanding,
even
if
acoustic
ratio
kept
constant.
From
clinical
perspective,
these
offer
potential
for
objective
evaluation
mechanisms,
detection
pathologies
sensitive
processing,
such
as
asymmetric
hearing
loss,
neuropathy
age‐related
deficits.
