How Speaking Affects Brain Responses to Sound
Author Information
Author(s): Greenlee Jeremy D. W., Jackson Adam W., Chen Fangxiang, Larson Charles R., Oya Hiroyuki, Kawasaki Hiroto, Chen Haiming, Howard Matthew A. III
Primary Institution: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Iowa
Hypothesis
Vocalization-associated changes in speech sound processing occur mainly within localized areas of human auditory cortex and the overall nature of these changes would be attenuation.
Conclusion
The study found that vocalization leads to both suppressive and enhancing effects on auditory cortical responses, depending on the specific area of the auditory cortex involved.
Supporting Evidence
- Vocalization was associated with significant attenuation of auditory evoked potentials in the superior temporal gyrus.
- Some areas of the auditory cortex showed enhanced activity during vocalization.
- Responses varied significantly across different sites in the auditory cortex.
Takeaway
When people talk, their brains react differently to sounds they make compared to sounds they hear from others. This study looked at how this happens in the brain.
Methodology
The study used intracranial electrodes implanted in patients to directly record brain activity during vocalization and playback of their own voice.
Potential Biases
The results may be influenced by the specific locations of electrode placements and the variability in auditory field locations across subjects.
Limitations
The study only recorded from one hemisphere in each subject and could not assess the effects in core and belt fields of auditory cortex.
Participant Demographics
The participants were 10 patients (5 male, 5 female) aged 20 to 62 years, undergoing surgery for epilepsy.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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