The Sensory Consequences of Speaking
Author Information
Author(s): Christoffels Ingrid K., van de Ven Vincent, Waldorp Lourens J., Formisano Elia, Schiller Niels O.
Primary Institution: Leiden University
Hypothesis
Does the match between predicted and actual sensory feedback during speech production result in inhibition of auditory activity?
Conclusion
The study concludes that during speaking, early auditory cortex is involved in matching external signals with internally generated predictions, which may help identify speech production errors.
Supporting Evidence
- The study found that auditory cortex activity decreased during normal speech feedback.
- Increased auditory cortex activity was observed with decreased feedback quality during self-generated speech.
- The results suggest that the forward model of speech monitoring is specific and sensitive to feedback quality.
Takeaway
When we talk, our brain tries to match what we expect to hear with what we actually hear, and this helps us catch mistakes in our speech.
Methodology
The study used fMRI to measure brain activity while participants performed a picture naming task with varying levels of auditory feedback quality.
Limitations
The study's findings may not generalize beyond the specific conditions tested, and the sample size was relatively small.
Participant Demographics
11 healthy volunteers (3 male, 8 female, mean age 22.3 years; range 19–26), right-handed, native Dutch speakers.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website