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Hu H, Li J, He S, Zhao Y, Liu P, Liu H. Aging-related decline in the neuromotor control of speech production: current and future. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1172277. [PMID: 37151845 PMCID: PMC10156980 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1172277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Huijing Hu
- Institute of Medical Research, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jingting Li
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sixuan He
- Institute of Medical Research, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peng Liu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hanjun Liu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Hanjun Liu
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Auditory Processing Disorders in Elderly Persons vs. Linguistic and Emotional Prosody. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18126427. [PMID: 34198537 PMCID: PMC8296237 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18126427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background: Language communication, which is one of the basic forms of building and maintaining interpersonal relationships, deteriorates in elder age. One of the probable causes is a decline in auditory functioning, including auditory central processing. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the profile of central auditory processing disorders in the elderly as well as the relationship between these disorders and the perception of emotional and linguistic prosody. Methods: The Right Hemisphere Language Battery (RHLB-PL), and the Brain-Boy Universal Professional (BUP) were used. Results: There are statistically significant relationships between emotional prosody and: spatial hearing (r(18) = 0.46, p = 0.04); the time of the reaction (r(18) = 0.49, p = 0.03); recognizing the frequency pattern (r(18) = 0.49, p = 0.03 (4); and recognizing the duration pattern (r(18) = 0.45, p = 0.05. There are statistically significant correlations between linguistic prosody and: pitch discrimination (r(18) = 0.5, p = 0.02); recognition of the frequency pattern (r(18) = 0.55, p = 0.01); recognition of the temporal pattern; and emotional prosody (r(18) = 0.58, p = 0.01). Conclusions: The analysis of the disturbed components of auditory central processing among the tested samples showed a reduction in the functions related to frequency differentiation, the recognition of the temporal pattern, the process of discriminating between important sounds, and the speed of reaction. De-automation of the basic functions of auditory central processing, which we observe in older age, lowers the perception of both emotional and linguistic prosody, thus reducing the quality of communication in older people.
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Wu Z, Bao X, Ding Y, Gao Y, Zhang C, Qu T, Li L. Differences in auditory associative memory between younger adults and older adults. AGING NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION 2021; 29:882-902. [PMID: 34078214 DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2021.1932714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Aging impairs visual associative memories. Up to date, little is known about whether aging impairs auditory associative memories. Using the head-related-transfer function to induce perceived spatial locations of auditory phonemes, this study used an audiospatial paired-associates-learning (PAL) paradigm to assess the auditory associative memory for phoneme-location pairs in both younger and older adults. Both aging groups completed the PAL task with various levels of difficulty, which were defined by the number of items to be remembered. The results showed that compared with younger participants' performance, older participants passed fewer stages and had lower capacity of auditory associative memory. For maintaining a single audiospatial pair, no significant behavioral differences between the two aging grous werefound. However, when multiple sound-location pairs were required to be remembered, older adults made more errors and demonstrated a lower working memory capacity than younger adults. Our study indicates aging impairs audiospatial associative learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhemeng Wu
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavioral and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaohan Bao
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavioral and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Ding
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavioral and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yayue Gao
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavioral and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Changxin Zhang
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavioral and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Tianshu Qu
- Department of Machine Intelligence, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Liang Li
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavioral and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China
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4
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Effects of aging on event-related potentials to single-cycle binaural beats and diotic amplitude modulation of a tone. Brain Res 2020; 1740:146849. [PMID: 32330517 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2020.146849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Revised: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Aim of the study is to determine whether the auditory processing of temporal fine structure (TFS) is affected with normal aging, even in the presence of normal audiometric hearing and fine cognitive state; and, if it is, to see whether a comparable effect is also observed in the processing of a diotic change in sound envelope. The event-related potentials (ERPs) to binaural beats (BBs), which are the responses of the binaural mechanisms processing TFS of a sound, and the ERPs to diotic amplitude modulation (AM) stimuli, which are the responses of the monaural mechanisms processing the changes in its envelope, were recorded from thirteen young university students and ten senior but active university professors, all with normal hearing in low frequencies. To obtain directly the specific BB responses without confounding monaural frequency change-evoked responses, we used single-cycle BB stimuli with temporary sub-threshold frequency shifts. BBs of a 250-Hz tone and diotic AM of the same tone with similar perceptual salience were presented with 2-second stimulus onset asynchrony. The N1 components of the ERPs to both stimuli displayed notable age-dependent changes in their scalp topography and significant amplitude reduction and latency prolongation in the elderly. These amplitude and latency changes were at similar rates for the two stimulus types, implying that the auditory TFS and envelope processing mechanisms are proportionally affected by physiological aging. These results may serve as control data in future studies investigating the effect of aging-associated cognitive pathologies on auditory TFS processing.
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5
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Karawani H, Jenkins KA, Anderson S. Neural and behavioral changes after the use of hearing aids. Clin Neurophysiol 2018; 129:1254-1267. [PMID: 29677689 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2018.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Revised: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 03/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Individuals with age-related hearing loss (ARHL) can restore some loss of the auditory function with the use of hearing aids (HAs). However, what remains unknown are the physiological mechanisms that underlie how the brain changes with exposure to amplified sounds though the use of HAs. We aimed to examine behavioral and physiological changes induced by HAs. METHODS Thirty-five older-adults with moderate ARHL with no history of hearing aid use were fit with HAs tested in aided and unaided conditions, and divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group used HAs during a period of six months. The control group did not use HAs during this period, but were given the opportunity to use them after the completion of the study. Both groups underwent testing protocols six months apart. Outcome measures included behavioral (speech-in-noise measures, self-assessment questionnaires) and electrophysiological brainstem recordings (frequency-following responses) to the speech syllable /ga/ in two quiet conditions and in six-talker babble noise. RESULTS The experimental group reported subjective benefits on self-assessment questionnaires. Significant physiological changes were observed in the experimental group, specifically a reduction in fundamental frequency magnitude, while no change was observed in controls, yielding a significant time × group interaction. Furthermore, peak latencies remained stable in the experimental group but were significantly delayed in the control group after six months. Significant correlations between behavioral and physiological changes were also observed. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that HAs may alter subcortical processing and offset neural timing delay; however, further investigation is needed to understand cortical changes and HA effects on cognitive processing. SIGNIFICANCE The findings of the current study provide evidence for clinicians that the use of HAs may prevent further loss of auditory function resulting from sensory deprivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanin Karawani
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
| | - Kimberly A Jenkins
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA; Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Samira Anderson
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA; Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Program, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
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6
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Wilson TW, Heinrichs-Graham E, Proskovec AL, McDermott TJ. Neuroimaging with magnetoencephalography: A dynamic view of brain pathophysiology. Transl Res 2016; 175:17-36. [PMID: 26874219 PMCID: PMC4959997 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2016.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2015] [Revised: 01/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is a noninvasive, silent, and totally passive neurophysiological imaging method with excellent temporal resolution (∼1 ms) and good spatial precision (∼3-5 mm). In a typical experiment, MEG data are acquired as healthy controls or patients with neurologic or psychiatric disorders perform a specific cognitive task, or receive sensory stimulation. The resulting data are generally analyzed using standard electrophysiological methods, coupled with advanced image reconstruction algorithms. To date, the total number of MEG instruments and associated users is significantly smaller than comparable human neuroimaging techniques, although this is likely to change in the near future with advances in the technology. Despite this small base, MEG research has made a significant impact on several areas of translational neuroscience, largely through its unique capacity to quantify the oscillatory dynamics of activated brain circuits in humans. This review focuses on the clinical areas where MEG imaging has arguably had the greatest impact in regard to the identification of aberrant neural dynamics at the regional and network level, monitoring of disease progression, determining how efficacious pharmacologic and behavioral interventions modulate neural systems, and the development of neural markers of disease. Specifically, this review covers recent advances in understanding the abnormal neural oscillatory dynamics that underlie Parkinson's disease, autism spectrum disorders, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated neurocognitive disorders, cerebral palsy, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, cognitive aging, and post-traumatic stress disorder. MEG imaging has had a major impact on how clinical neuroscientists understand the brain basis of these disorders, and its translational influence is rapidly expanding with new discoveries and applications emerging continuously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony W Wilson
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, Neb; Center for Magnetoencephalography, UNMC, Omaha, Neb; Department of Neurological Sciences, UNMC, Omaha, Neb.
| | - Elizabeth Heinrichs-Graham
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, Neb; Center for Magnetoencephalography, UNMC, Omaha, Neb
| | - Amy L Proskovec
- Center for Magnetoencephalography, UNMC, Omaha, Neb; Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska - Omaha, Neb
| | - Timothy J McDermott
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, Neb; Center for Magnetoencephalography, UNMC, Omaha, Neb
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Jafari Z, Esmaili M, Delbari A, Mehrpour M, Mohajerani MH. Auditory Temporal Processing Deficits in Chronic Stroke: A Comparison of Brain Damage Lateralization Effect. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2016; 25:1403-10. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2016.02.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2015] [Revised: 02/01/2016] [Accepted: 02/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Alain C, Roye A, Salloum C. Effects of age-related hearing loss and background noise on neuromagnetic activity from auditory cortex. Front Syst Neurosci 2014; 8:8. [PMID: 24550790 PMCID: PMC3907769 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2014.00008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2013] [Accepted: 01/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging is often accompanied by hearing loss, which impacts how sounds are processed and represented along the ascending auditory pathways and within the auditory cortices. Here, we assess the impact of mild binaural hearing loss on the older adults’ ability to both process complex sounds embedded in noise and to segregate a mistuned harmonic in an otherwise periodic stimulus. We measured auditory evoked fields (AEFs) using magnetoencephalography while participants were presented with complex tones that had either all harmonics in tune or had the third harmonic mistuned by 4 or 16% of its original value. The tones (75 dB sound pressure level, SPL) were presented without, with low (45 dBA SPL), or with moderate (65 dBA SPL) Gaussian noise. For each participant, we modeled the AEFs with a pair of dipoles in the superior temporal plane. We then examined the effects of hearing loss and noise on the amplitude and latency of the resulting source waveforms. In the present study, results revealed that similar noise-induced increases in N1m were present in older adults with and without hearing loss. Our results also showed that the P1m amplitude was larger in the hearing impaired than in the normal-hearing adults. In addition, the object-related negativity (ORN) elicited by the mistuned harmonic was larger in hearing impaired listeners. The enhanced P1m and ORN amplitude in the hearing impaired older adults suggests that hearing loss increased neural excitability in auditory cortices, which could be related to deficits in inhibitory control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claude Alain
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care Toronto, ON, Canada ; Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Toronto, ON, Canada ; Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Anja Roye
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Claire Salloum
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care Toronto, ON, Canada
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Age-related laterality shifts in auditory and attention networks with normal ageing: Effects on a working memory task. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.npbr.2013.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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10
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Early and Late Shift of Brain Laterality in STG, HG, and Cerebellum with Normal Aging during a Short-Term Memory Task. ISRN NEUROLOGY 2013; 2013:892072. [PMID: 23533806 PMCID: PMC3600174 DOI: 10.1155/2013/892072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2012] [Accepted: 01/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Evidence suggests that cognitive performance deteriorates in noisy backgrounds and the problems are more pronounced in older people due to brain deficits and changes. The present study used functional MRI (fMRI) to investigate the neural correlates of this phenomenon during short-term memory using a forward repeat task performed in quiet (STMQ) and in noise: 5-dB SNR (STMN) on four groups of participants of different ages. The performance of short-term memory tasks was measured behaviourally. No significant difference was found across age groups in STMQ. However, older adults (50–65 year olds) performed relatively poorly on the STMN. fMRI results on the laterality index indicate changes in hemispheric laterality in the superior temporal gyrus (STG), Heschl's gyrus (HG), and cerebellum, and a leftward asymmetry in younger participants which changes to a more rightward asymmetry in older participants. The results also indicate that the onset of the laterality shift varies from one brain region to another. STG and HG show a late shift while the cerebellum shows an earlier shift. The results also reveal that noise influences this shifting. Finally, the results support the hypothesis that functional networks that underlie STG, HG, and cerebellum undergo reorganization to compensate for the neural deficit/cognitive decline.
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Anderson S, White-Schwoch T, Parbery-Clark A, Kraus N. A dynamic auditory-cognitive system supports speech-in-noise perception in older adults. Hear Res 2013; 300:18-32. [PMID: 23541911 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2013.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2012] [Revised: 03/06/2013] [Accepted: 03/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Understanding speech in noise is one of the most complex activities encountered in everyday life, relying on peripheral hearing, central auditory processing, and cognition. These abilities decline with age, and so older adults are often frustrated by a reduced ability to communicate effectively in noisy environments. Many studies have examined these factors independently; in the last decade, however, the idea of an auditory-cognitive system has emerged, recognizing the need to consider the processing of complex sounds in the context of dynamic neural circuits. Here, we used structural equation modeling to evaluate the interacting contributions of peripheral hearing, central processing, cognitive ability, and life experiences to understanding speech in noise. We recruited 120 older adults (ages 55-79) and evaluated their peripheral hearing status, cognitive skills, and central processing. We also collected demographic measures of life experiences, such as physical activity, intellectual engagement, and musical training. In our model, central processing and cognitive function predicted a significant proportion of variance in the ability to understand speech in noise. To a lesser extent, life experience predicted hearing-in-noise ability through modulation of brainstem function. Peripheral hearing levels did not significantly contribute to the model. Previous musical experience modulated the relative contributions of cognitive ability and lifestyle factors to hearing in noise. Our models demonstrate the complex interactions required to hear in noise and the importance of targeting cognitive function, lifestyle, and central auditory processing in the management of individuals who are having difficulty hearing in noise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samira Anderson
- Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
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12
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Anderson S, Parbery-Clark A, White-Schwoch T, Kraus N. Auditory brainstem response to complex sounds predicts self-reported speech-in-noise performance. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2013; 56:31-43. [PMID: 22761320 PMCID: PMC3648418 DOI: 10.1044/1092-4388(2012/12-0043)] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To compare the ability of the auditory brainstem response to complex sounds (cABR) to predict subjective ratings of speech understanding in noise on the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ; Gatehouse & Noble, 2004) relative to the predictive ability of the Quick Speech-in-Noise test (QuickSIN; Killion, Niquette, Gudmundsen, Revit, & Banerjee, 2004) and pure-tone hearing thresholds. METHOD Participants included 111 middle- to older-age adults (range = 45-78) with audiometric configurations ranging from normal hearing levels to moderate sensorineural hearing loss. In addition to using audiometric testing, the authors also used such evaluation measures as the QuickSIN, the SSQ, and the cABR. RESULTS Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that the inclusion of brainstem variables in a model with QuickSIN, hearing thresholds, and age accounted for 30% of the variance in the Speech subtest of the SSQ, compared with significantly less variance (19%) when brainstem variables were not included. CONCLUSION The authors' results demonstrate the cABR's efficacy for predicting self-reported speech-in-noise perception difficulties. The fact that the cABR predicts more variance in self-reported speech-in-noise (SIN) perception than either the QuickSIN or hearing thresholds indicates that the cABR provides additional insight into an individual's ability to hear in background noise. In addition, the findings underscore the link between the cABR and hearing in noise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samira Anderson
- Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
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13
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Sun ZY, Wang JH, Sun JL, Wang TJ, Li L, Dong YH, Wu J, Cui WZ, Wu YJ, Lu PY. Magnetoencephalography assessment of evoked magnetic fields and cognitive function in subcortical ischemic vascular dementia patients. Neurosci Lett 2013; 532:17-22. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2012.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2012] [Revised: 10/13/2012] [Accepted: 10/17/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Miettinen I, Alku P, Yrttiaho S, May PJ, Tiitinen H. Cortical processing of degraded speech sounds: Effects of distortion type and continuity. Neuroimage 2012; 60:1036-45. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.01.085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2011] [Revised: 01/09/2012] [Accepted: 01/11/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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Alain C, McDonald K, Van Roon P. Effects of age and background noise on processing a mistuned harmonic in an otherwise periodic complex sound. Hear Res 2011; 283:126-35. [PMID: 22101023 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2011.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2011] [Revised: 10/22/2011] [Accepted: 10/25/2011] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Older adults presented with short (i.e., 40 ms) harmonic complex tones show a reduced likelihood of hearing the mistuned harmonic as a separate sound. Here, we examined whether this age difference for the mistuned harmonic would generalize to a longer signal duration (i.e., 200 ms). We measured auditory evoked fields (AEFs) using magnetoencephalography while young and older adults were presented with harmonic complex tones that either had all partials of the tones in tune (single sound object) or contained a 4 or 16% mistuned harmonic (dual sound objects). The auditory stimuli were presented in isolation or embedded in low or moderate levels of continuous white noise. For each participant, we modeled the AEFs with a pair of dipoles in the superior temporal plane and examined the effects of age and noise on the amplitude and latency of the resulting source waveforms. The present study reveals similar noise-induced increases in N1m and object-related negativity in young and older adults which may be mediated via efferent feedback connections and/or changes in the temporal window of integration. We observed less age-related differences in concurrent sound segregation for stimuli that matched the duration of the temporal integration window of auditory perception (i.e., ∼200 ms) than for short duration sounds (i.e., 40 ms). Possible explanations for this duration-dependent age-related decline in concurrent sound perception are a general slowing in auditory processing and/or lengthening of the temporal integration window.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claude Alain
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, 3560 Bathurst Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6A 2E1.
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Liu P, Chen Z, Jones JA, Huang D, Liu H. Auditory feedback control of vocal pitch during sustained vocalization: a cross-sectional study of adult aging. PLoS One 2011; 6:e22791. [PMID: 21799942 PMCID: PMC3143188 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0022791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2010] [Accepted: 07/06/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Auditory feedback has been demonstrated to play an important role in the control of voice fundamental frequency (F(0)), but the mechanisms underlying the processing of auditory feedback remain poorly understood. It has been well documented that young adults can use auditory feedback to stabilize their voice F(0) by making compensatory responses to perturbations they hear in their vocal pitch feedback. However, little is known about the effects of aging on the processing of audio-vocal feedback during vocalization. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS In the present study, we recruited adults who were between 19 and 75 years of age and divided them into five age groups. Using a pitch-shift paradigm, the pitch of their vocal feedback was unexpectedly shifted ±50 or ±100 cents during sustained vocalization of the vowel sound/u/. Compensatory vocal F(0) response magnitudes and latencies to pitch feedback perturbations were examined. A significant effect of age was found such that response magnitudes increased with increasing age until maximal values were reached for adults 51-60 years of age and then decreased for adults 61-75 years of age. Adults 51-60 years of age were also more sensitive to the direction and magnitude of the pitch feedback perturbations compared to younger adults. CONCLUSION These findings demonstrate that the pitch-shift reflex systematically changes across the adult lifespan. Understanding aging-related changes to the role of auditory feedback is critically important for our theoretical understanding of speech production and the clinical applications of that knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Liu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhaocong Chen
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jeffery A. Jones
- Department of Psychology and Laurier Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dongfeng Huang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hanjun Liu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- * E-mail:
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The effects of cortical ischemic stroke on auditory processing in humans as indexed by transient brain responses. Clin Neurophysiol 2010; 121:912-20. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2010.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2009] [Revised: 03/01/2010] [Accepted: 03/04/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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