Auditory event-related potentials index faster processing of natural speech but not synthetic speech over nonspeech analogs in children.

Auditory event-related potentials index faster processing of natural speech but not synthetic speech over nonspeech analogs in children. Brain Lang. 2020 Jun 18;207:104825 Authors: Whitten A, Key AP, Mefferd AS, Bodfish JW Abstract Given the crucial role of speech sounds in human language, it may be beneficial for speech to be supported by more efficient auditory and attentional neural processing mechanisms compared to nonspeech sounds. However, previous event-related potential (ERP) studies have found either no differences or slower auditory processing of speech than nonspeech, as well as inconsistent attentional processing. We hypothesized that this may be due to the use of synthetic stimuli in past experiments. The present study measured ERP responses during passive listening to both synthetic and natural speech and complexity-matched nonspeech analog sounds in 22 8-11-year-old children. We found that although children were more likely to show immature auditory ERP responses to the more complex natural stimuli, ERP latencies were significantly faster to natural speech compared to cow vocalizations, but were significantly slower to synthetic speech compared to tones. The attentional results indicated a P3a orienting response only to the cow sound, and we discuss potential methodological reasons for this. We conclude that our results support more efficient auditory processing of natural speech sounds in children, though more researc...
Source: Brain and Language - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Brain Lang Source Type: research