Perceptual processing of a complex auditory context: testing a new dichotic multifeature mismatch negativity (MMN) paradigm

TY - CONF

T1 - Perceptual processing of a complex auditory context

T2 - The Neurosciences and Music VI - Music, Sound and Health

AU - Quiroga Martinez, David Ricardo

AU - Hansen, Niels Christian

AU - Højlund, Andreas

AU - Brattico, Elvira

AU - Vuust, Peter

PY - 2017/6/16

Y1 - 2017/6/16

N2 - The mismatch negativity (MMN) is a brain response elicited by deviants in a series of repetitive sounds. It reflects the perception of change in low-level sound features and reliably measures perceptual auditory memory. However, most MMN studies use simple tone patterns as stimuli, failing to represent the complexity of everyday auditory contexts. We aim to develop a new MMN paradigm using more real-sounding and complex musical stimuli. For this purpose, we will improve a previous design based on the Alberti bass by adding a melody through dichotic presentation. We will use magnetoencephalography (MEG) to record nonmusicians’ responses to four types of deviants (frequency, intensity, timbre and omission) while they watch a silent film under three conditions: listening to the bass only, listening to the melody only and listening to bass and melody together, each presented to a different ear. The ear of presentation will be counterbalanced across participants. We hypothesize that right-lateralized MMNs will be elicited for all types of deviants and their amplitude will be similar for both sound streams in all blocks. Once developed the design can be used to assess auditory perception and selective attention in both health and disease.

AB - The mismatch negativity (MMN) is a brain response elicited by deviants in a series of repetitive sounds. It reflects the perception of change in low-level sound features and reliably measures perceptual auditory memory. However, most MMN studies use simple tone patterns as stimuli, failing to represent the complexity of everyday auditory contexts. We aim to develop a new MMN paradigm using more real-sounding and complex musical stimuli. For this purpose, we will improve a previous design based on the Alberti bass by adding a melody through dichotic presentation. We will use magnetoencephalography (MEG) to record nonmusicians’ responses to four types of deviants (frequency, intensity, timbre and omission) while they watch a silent film under three conditions: listening to the bass only, listening to the melody only and listening to bass and melody together, each presented to a different ear. The ear of presentation will be counterbalanced across participants. We hypothesize that right-lateralized MMNs will be elicited for all types of deviants and their amplitude will be similar for both sound streams in all blocks. Once developed the design can be used to assess auditory perception and selective attention in both health and disease.

M3 - Poster

Y2 - 15 June 2017 through 18 June 2017

ER -