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. 2011 Oct;49(12):3512-6.
doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2011.08.014. Epub 2011 Aug 19.

Predictability affects early perceptual processing of word onsets in continuous speech

Lori B Astheimer  1 , Lisa D Sanders
Affiliations

Predictability affects early perceptual processing of word onsets in continuous speech

Lori B Astheimer et al. Neuropsychologia. 2011 Oct.

Abstract

Event-related potential (ERP) evidence indicates that listeners selectively attend to word onsets in continuous speech, but the reason for this preferential processing is unknown. The current study measured ERPs elicited by syllable onsets in an artificial language to test the hypothesis that listeners direct attention to word onsets because their identity is unpredictable. Both before and after recognition training, participants listened to a continuous stream of six nonsense words arranged in pairs, such that the second word in each pair was completely predictable. After training, first words in pairs elicited a larger negativity beginning around 100 ms after onset. This effect was not evident for the completely predictable second words in pairs. These results suggest that listeners are most likely to attend to the segments in speech that they are least able to predict.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Experimental paradigm. A single experimental session consisted of eight phases, which alternated between behavioral testing or training and syllable stream exposure while EEG was recorded.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Approximate scalp location of 128 recording electrodes. Measurements were taken from the 50 electrodes shown in black and averaged into 25 pairs arranged in a 5 (Left/Right position) × 5 (Anterior/Posterior position) grid.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Accuracy scores (d′) and standard errors on four behavioral tests: (1) before speech stream exposure, (2) after 16 minutes of exposure, (3) after mastering the words during training, and (4) after 16 additional minutes of exposure. Zero indicates chance performance, and the dotted line indicates the training criterion (d′ = 1.8). Performance on tests 3 and 4 was significantly above chance (* indicates p < .001).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Event-related potentials elicited by initial, medial, and final syllable onsets in unpredictable and predictable words before and after recognition training. Data are shown from 9 central electrode sites, indicated on the electrode map. After training, word-initial syllables in unpredictable words elicited a larger negativity between 115 and 200 ms.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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