Neural Responses and Perceptual Sensitivity to Sound Depend on Sound-Level Statistics

Herrmann, Björn; Augereau, Thomas; Johnsrude, Ingrid S.

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-66715-1

Cited by 18 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 69 publications

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“…Natural sounds such as speech and music are rich in structured amplitude and frequency motifs that recur over time -here referred to as regular patterns (Rosen, 1992;Topbas et al, 2012;Broze and Huron, 2013). Sensitivity to regular patterns is thought to optimize auditory perception (Smith and Lewicki, 2006;Kluender et al, 2013) by enabling, for example, segregation of sound streams (Snyder and Alain, 2007;Bendixen, 2014), detection of acoustic changes (Schröger, 2005;Winkler et al, 2009;Herrmann et al, 2020), and recognition and prediction of sounds (Jones and Boltz, 1989;Henry and Herrmann, 2014;Nobre and van Ede, 2018). Learning of regular patterns may also benefit perception, for example, by increasing detection sensitivity and reducing detection time of recognizable sounds (Agus et al, 2010;Bianco et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introduction Introduction Introduction Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustained neural activity correlates with rapid perceptual learning of auditory patterns

Herrmann

Araz

Johnsrude

2020

Preprint

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Recurring structures forming regular patterns are common in sounds. Learning such patterns is thought to be crucial for accurate auditory perceptual organization (scene analysis) and efficient recognition and prediction of sounds. The current study investigated the behavioral and neural signatures of rapid perceptual learning of regular patterns in sounds. In six behavioral and EEG experiments with over 120 human participants from both sexes, we show that individuals are faster to detect regular patterns, are more sensitive to pattern deviations, and are more accurate at judging the temporal order of pattern onset relative to a visual stimulus when patterns are repeated compared to novel. Sustained neural activity indexed perceptual learning in two ways. First, sustained activity increased earlier for repeated compared to novel regular patterns when participants attended to sounds, but not when they ignored them; this earlier response increase mirrored the rapid perceptual learning we observed behaviorally. Second, the magnitude of sustained activity was reduced for repeated compared to novel patterns, independent of whether participants attended to or ignored sounds. The reduction in the magnitude of sustained activity appeared only for later stimulus presentations, suggesting it is not directly related to perceptual learning, but to processes enabled by learning. Our study thus reveals neural markers of perceptual learning of auditory patterns, and of processes that may be related to reduced novelty or better prediction of learned auditory patterns.

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Section: Introduction Introduction Introduction Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustained neural activity correlates with rapid perceptual learning of auditory patterns

Herrmann

Araz

Johnsrude

2020

Preprint

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“…Wave V amplitude increased with increasing sound level but was not sensitive to statistical context. In contrast, previous investigations of adaptation to sound-level statistics report sensitivity of firing rate in non-human mammals or magneto−/electroencephalographic response magnitude in humans 15,16,18,21,22,24 , whereas no effects of spike latency or response latency were reported; but see 6 . Although it is well known that Wave V amplitude adapts less than Wave V latency 32,36 , the reasons for this are unknown.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

“…In three EEG experiments, we investigated the extent to which neurons in the human brainstem adapt to sound-level statistics. We utilized a paradigm in which participants listened to clicks in two contexts, where the sound level was drawn from distributions with different modal sound levels (25 dB SL and 55 dB SL) and where target clicks and clicks preceding target clicks were identical in the two contexts with different modal sound levels 16,24 . Controlling the immediate history of clicks across contexts allowed us to investigate the effect of longer-term sound-level statistics on brainstem responses.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sound level context modulates neural activity in the human brainstem

Herrmann

Yasmin

Araz

et al. 2021

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Optimal perception requires adaptation to sounds in the environment. Adaptation involves representing the acoustic stimulation history in neural response patterns, for example, by altering response magnitude or latency as sound-level statistics change. Neurons in the auditory brainstem of rodents are sensitive to acoustic stimulation history and sound-level statistics, but the degree to which the human brainstem exhibits such neural adaptation is unclear. In six electroencephalography experiments with over 125 participants, we demonstrate that acoustic stimuli within a time window of at least 40 ms are represented in response latency of the human brainstem. We further show that human brainstem responses adapt to sound-level statistical information, but that neural sensitivity to sound-level statistics is less reliable when acoustic stimuli need to be integrated over periods of ~40 ms. Our results provide evidence of adaptation to sound-level statistics in the human brainstem and of the timescale over which sound-level statistics affect neural responses to sound. The research delivers an important link to studies on neural adaptation in non-human animals.

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“…To our knowledge, there is no qualitative measurement of NICU environmental sound that might distinguish disturbing, irregular noise from meaningful sound exposure. Interestingly, the same sound may be interpreted as comforting sound or annoying noise depending on the individual situation [58,59], associated expectations and interpretation [6,60], and the cultural background [61]. Some people have shown a higher noise sensitivity [62], with an estimated hereditability of about 30% [63].…”

Section: Characterization Of Environmental Noise At the Nicumentioning

confidence: 99%

Newborn Incubators Do Not Protect from High Noise Levels in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Are Relevant Noise Sources by Themselves

et al. 2021

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Background: While meaningful sound exposure has been shown to be important for newborn development, an excess of noise can delay the proper development of the auditory cortex. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the acoustic environment of a preterm baby in an incubator on a newborn intensive care unit (NICU). Methods: An empty but running incubator (Giraffe Omnibed, GE Healthcare) was used to evaluate the incubator frequency response with 60 measurements. In addition, a full day and night period outside and inside the incubator at the NICU of the University Hospital Zurich was acoustically analyzed. Results: The fan construction inside the incubator generates noise in the frequency range of 1.3–1.5 kHz with a weighted sound pressure level (SPL) of 40.5 dB(A). The construction of the incubator narrows the transmitted frequency spectrum of sound entering the incubator to lower frequencies, but it does not attenuate transient noises such as alarms or opening and closing of cabinet doors substantially. Alarms, as generated by the monitors, the incubator, and additional devices, still pass to the newborn. Conclusions: The incubator does protect only insufficiently from noise coming from the NICUThe transmitted frequency spectrum is changed, limiting the impact of NICU noise on the neonate, but also limiting the neonate’s perception of voices. The incubator, in particular its fan, as well as alarms from patient monitors are major sources of noise. Further optimizations with regard to the sound exposure in the NICU, as well as studies on the role of the incubator as a source and modulator, are needed to meet the preterm infants’ multi-sensory needs.

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Neural Responses and Perceptual Sensitivity to Sound Depend on Sound-Level Statistics

Cited by 18 publications

References 69 publications

Sustained neural activity correlates with rapid perceptual learning of auditory patterns

Sustained neural activity correlates with rapid perceptual learning of auditory patterns

Sound level context modulates neural activity in the human brainstem

Newborn Incubators Do Not Protect from High Noise Levels in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Are Relevant Noise Sources by Themselves

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