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Neural Correlates of Auditory Figure-Ground Segregation Based on Temporal Coherence

Lookup NU author(s): Sundeep Teki, Professor Tim GriffithsORCiD

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

To make sense of natural acoustic environments, listeners must parse complex mixtures of sounds that vary in frequency, space, and time. Emerging work suggests that, in addition to the well-studied spectral cues for segregation, sensitivity to temporal coherence-the coincidence of sound elements in and across time-is also critical for the perceptual organization of acoustic scenes. Here, we examine pre-attentive, stimulus-driven neural processes underlying auditory figure-ground segregation using stimuli that capture the challenges of listening in complex scenes where segregation cannot be achieved based on spectral cues alone. Signals ("stochastic figure-ground": SFG) comprised a sequence of brief broadband chords containing random pure tone components that vary from 1 chord to another. Occasional tone repetitions across chords are perceived as "figures" popping out of a stochastic "ground." Magnetoencephalography (MEG) measurement in na < ve, distracted, human subjects revealed robust evoked responses, commencing from about 150 ms after figure onset that reflect the emergence of the "figure" from the randomly varying "ground." Neural sources underlying this bottom-up driven figure-ground segregation were localized to planum temporale, and the intraparietal sulcus, demonstrating that this area, outside the "classic" auditory system, is also involved in the early stages of auditory scene analysis.".


Publication metadata

Author(s): Teki S, Barascud N, Picard S, Payne C, Griffiths TD, Chait M

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Cerebral Cortex

Year: 2016

Volume: 26

Issue: 9

Pages: 3669-3680

Print publication date: 01/09/2016

Online publication date: 30/09/2016

Acceptance date: 02/04/2016

Date deposited: 23/11/2016

ISSN (print): 1047-3211

ISSN (electronic): 1460-2199

Publisher: Oxford University Press

URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhw173

DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhw173


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
106084/Z/14/ZWellcome Trust
093292/Z/10/ZWellcome Trust
WT091681MAWellcome Trust
093292/Z/10/Z
106084/Z/14/Z
WT091681MA

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