Using functional near infrared spectroscopy to assess auditory responses in auditory and lateral frontal cortex

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

1-1-2019

Abstract

A growing literature reveals that brain mechanisms contribute to symptoms of hearing loss. To study how hearing loss affects brain function, several groups including our own have developed light-based methods via functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Using fNIRS, we recently confirmed that lateral frontal cortex (LFC) engages when normal-hearing listeners direct attention to words in background sound versus listen passively. We now test how sensory resolution affects LFC recruitment. As a control, we also record over auditory cortex (AC). Using simulated cochlear implant speech, we ask listeners to perform a word detection task in a situation with competing background speech, as a function of the amount of sensory detail in the cochlear implant simulation. One possibility is that impoverished sensory cues reduce AC or LFC engagement, as compared to high-fidelity cues, limiting the potential usefulness auditory attention. Alternatively, poorly resolved sensory detail may increase AC or LFC engagement, causing it to saturate and limiting overall speech intelligibility. Recruitment of AC and LFC will be discussed in context of the saturation hypothesis.

Identifier

85099330238 (Scopus)

ISBN

[9783939296157]

Publication Title

Proceedings of the International Congress on Acoustics

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.18154/RWTH-CONV-239916

e-ISSN

24151599

ISSN

22267808

First Page

5659

Last Page

5663

Volume

2019-September

Grant

MRI CBET 1428425

Fund Ref

National Science Foundation

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