Phonetic training and non-native speech perception — New memory traces evolve in just three days as indexed by the mismatch negativity (MMN) and behavioural measures

This paper describes a logatome discrimination test for the assessment of speech perception in cochlear implant users (CI users), based on a multilingual speech database, the Oldenburg Logatome Corpus, which was originally recorded for the comparison of human and automated speech recognition. The logatome discrimination task is based on the presentation of 100 logatome pairs (i.e., nonsense syllables) with balanced representations of alternating “vowel-replacement” and “consonant-replacement” paradigms in order to assess phoneme confusions. Thirteen adult normal hearing listeners and eight adult CI users, including both good and poor performers, were included in the study and completed the test after their speech intelligibility abilities were evaluated with an established sentence test in noise. Furthermore, the discrimination abilities were measured electrophysiologically by recording the mismatch negativity (MMN) as a component of auditory event-related potentials. The results show a clear MMN response only for normal hearing listeners and CI users with good performance, correlating with their logatome discrimination abilities. Higher discrimination scores for vowel-replacement paradigms than for the consonant-replacement paradigms were found. We conclude that the logatome discrimination test is well suited to monitor the speech perception skills of CI users. Due to the large number of available spoken logatome items, the Oldenburg Logatome Corpus appears to provide a useful and powerful basis for further development of speech perception tests for CI users.

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Face configuration affects speech perception: Evidence from a McGurk mismatch negativity study

Neuropsychologia ◽

10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2014.10.021 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 66 ◽

pp. 48-54 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Kasper Eskelund ◽

Ewen N. MacDonald ◽

Tobias S. Andersen

Keyword(s):

Speech Perception ◽

Mismatch Negativity

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Aging

The Mismatch Negativity ◽

10.1093/oso/9780198705079.003.0005 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 105-112

Author(s):

Risto Näätänen ◽

Teija Kujala ◽

Gregory Light

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Speech Perception ◽

Cognitive Decline ◽

Temporal Processing ◽

Brain Aging ◽

Brain Plasticity ◽

Part Of Speech ◽

Memory Traces ◽

Age Related ◽

The Brain

This chapter shows that MMN and its magnetoencephalographic (MEG) equivalent MMNm are sensitive indices of aging-related perceptual and cognitive decline. Importantly, the age-related neural changes are associated with a decrease of general brain plasticity, i.e. that of the ability of the brain to form and maintain sensory-memory traces, a necessary basis for veridical perception and appropriate cognitive brain function. MMN/MMNm to change in stimulus duration is particularly affected by aging, suggesting the increased vulnerability of temporal processing to brain aging and accounting, for instance, for a large part of speech-perception difficulties of the aged beyond the age-related peripheral hearing loss.

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Mismatch Negativity in Children with Cochlear Implant

International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology ◽

10.1055/s-0039-1688967 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 23 (03) ◽

pp. e292-e298

Author(s):

Natalia Martinez Fernandes ◽

Daniela Gil ◽

Marisa Frasson de Azevedo

Keyword(s):

Speech Perception ◽

Language Development ◽

Cochlear Implant ◽

Cochlear Implants ◽

Family Involvement ◽

Mismatch Negativity ◽

Control Group ◽

Study Group ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Hearing Children

Introduction The mismatch negativity (MMN) is a negative long-latency auditory potential elicited by any discriminable change in a repetitive aspect of auditory stimulation. This evoked potential can provide cortical information about the sound processing, including in children who use cochlear implants. Objective To identify MMN characteristics regarding latency, amplitude, and wave area in cochlear implanted children and to identify associations among language development, speech perception and family involvement. Methods This is a descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study, which compared two groups: study group—children with cochlear implant, and control group—hearing children. The children were submitted to MMN evaluation with non-verbal tone burst stimulus, differing in frequency in sound field at 70 dBHL, with SmartEP equipment (Intelligent Hearing Systems, Miami, FL, USA). Speech perception and language development questionnaires were also applied, and the family participation in the rehabilitation process was classified. Results The occurrence of MMN was 73.3% for the control group and 53.3% for the study group. Values of latency, amplitude and area of MMN of children using cochlear implants were similar to those of hearing children, and did not differ between groups. The occurrence of MMN was not correlated to the variables of hearing, language and family categories. Conclusion Children with cochlear implants showed similar MMN responses to those of the children in the control group, with mean latency, amplitude and area of 208.9 ms (±12.8), -2.37 μV (±0.38) and 86.5 μVms (±23.4), respectively. There was no correlation between the presence of MMN and children's performance in the auditory and language development tests or family involvement during rehabilitation.

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