TY - JOUR

T1 - Task-free auditory EEG paradigm for probing multiple levels of speech processing in the brain

AU - Gansonre, Christelle

AU - Højlund, Andreas

AU - Leminen, Alina

AU - Bailey, Christopher

AU - Shtyrov, Yury

PY - 2018/11/1

Y1 - 2018/11/1

N2 - While previous studies on language processing highlighted several ERP components in relation to specific stages of sound and speech processing, no study has yet combined them to obtain a comprehensive picture of language abilities in a single session. Here, we propose a novel task-free paradigm aimed at assessing multiple levels of speech processing by combining various speech and nonspeech sounds in an adaptation of a multifeature passive oddball design. We recorded EEG in healthy adult participants, who were presented with these sounds in the absence of sound-directed attention while being engaged in a primary visual task. This produced a range of responses indexing various levels of sound processing and language comprehension: (a) P1-N1 complex, indexing obligatory auditory processing; (b) P3-like dynamics associated with involuntary attention allocation for unusual sounds; (c) enhanced responses for native speech (as opposed to nonnative phonemes) from ∼50 ms from phoneme onset, indicating phonological processing; (d) amplitude advantage for familiar real words as opposed to meaningless pseudowords, indexing automatic lexical access; (e) topographic distribution differences in the cortical activation of action verbs versus concrete nouns, likely linked with the processing of lexical semantics. These multiple indices of speech-sound processing were acquired in a single attention-free setup that does not require any task or subject cooperation; subject to future research, the present protocol may potentially be developed into a useful tool for assessing the status of auditory and linguistic functions in uncooperative or unresponsive participants, including a range of clinical or developmental populations.

AB - While previous studies on language processing highlighted several ERP components in relation to specific stages of sound and speech processing, no study has yet combined them to obtain a comprehensive picture of language abilities in a single session. Here, we propose a novel task-free paradigm aimed at assessing multiple levels of speech processing by combining various speech and nonspeech sounds in an adaptation of a multifeature passive oddball design. We recorded EEG in healthy adult participants, who were presented with these sounds in the absence of sound-directed attention while being engaged in a primary visual task. This produced a range of responses indexing various levels of sound processing and language comprehension: (a) P1-N1 complex, indexing obligatory auditory processing; (b) P3-like dynamics associated with involuntary attention allocation for unusual sounds; (c) enhanced responses for native speech (as opposed to nonnative phonemes) from ∼50 ms from phoneme onset, indicating phonological processing; (d) amplitude advantage for familiar real words as opposed to meaningless pseudowords, indexing automatic lexical access; (e) topographic distribution differences in the cortical activation of action verbs versus concrete nouns, likely linked with the processing of lexical semantics. These multiple indices of speech-sound processing were acquired in a single attention-free setup that does not require any task or subject cooperation; subject to future research, the present protocol may potentially be developed into a useful tool for assessing the status of auditory and linguistic functions in uncooperative or unresponsive participants, including a range of clinical or developmental populations.

KW - auditory system

KW - EEG

KW - ERP

KW - evoked potentials

KW - language

KW - speech

KW - HUMAN NEOCORTEX

KW - ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE

KW - COMATOSE PATIENTS

KW - NOVELTY P3

KW - WORD RECOGNITION

KW - MISMATCH NEGATIVITY MMN

KW - EVENT-RELATED POTENTIALS

KW - NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE

KW - EVOKED-POTENTIALS

KW - MEMORY TRACES

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85052627802&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.mendeley.com/research/taskfree-auditory-eeg-paradigm-probing-multiple-levels-speech-processing-brain

U2 - 10.1111/psyp.13216

DO - 10.1111/psyp.13216

M3 - Article

C2 - 30101984

AN - SCOPUS:85052627802

VL - 55

JO - Psychophysiology

JF - Psychophysiology

SN - 0048-5772

IS - 11

M1 - e13216

ER -