Structural neural correlates of individual differences in categorical perception

Fuhrmeister, Pamela; Myers, Emily B.

doi:10.1016/j.bandl.2021.104919

Cited by 21 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…Instead, our data show the opposite pattern with regard to non-speech category learning. To our knowledge, only one study has shown correspondence between decreased gyrification in temporal regions and improved consistency in speech categorization behaviors (Fuhrmeister & Myers, 2021). Similarly, smaller gray matter volume in STG has been linked to improvements in speech and cognitive training (Maruyama et al, 2018;).…”

Section: Neuroanatomical Correlates Of Auditory Category Learningmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, it is often difficult to know whether anatomical differences are innate or experience-driven, but structural measures are presumed to be more stable and less plastic than functional responses (e.g., ERPs) (Golestani, 2012). Anatomical variability in auditory cortex has been related to learning rate and attainment for foreign speech sounds (Golestani et al, 2007), linguistic pitch patterns (Wong et al, 2008), and melody discrimination (Foster & Zatorre, 2010) as well as native speech categorization (Fuhrmeister & Myers, 2021). Consistent with this prior work on speech, our findings suggest that individual differences in music category perception and functional plasticity are influenced by anatomical predispositions within auditory cortex-that is, a layering of both nature and nurture.…”

Section: Neuroanatomical Correlates Of Auditory Category Learningmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the domain of speech, faster, more successful learners of nonnative phonemes exhibit larger left Heschl's gyrus (Golestani et al, 2007;Wong et al, 2008) and parietal lobe volumes (Golestani et al, 2002). Additionally, better and more consistent speech categorizers show increased right middle frontal gyrus surface area and reduced gyrification in bilateral temporal cortex (Fuhrmeister & Myers, 2021). We thus hypothesized that successful category learning in music would be predicted by neuroanatomical differences (e.g., gray matter volume, cortical thickness), with perhaps effects favoring right PAC.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is also significant variability in the acquisition of auditory categories (e.g., Golestani & Zatorre, 2009;Howard et al, 1992;Mankel, Pavlik Jr, et al, 2020;Silva et al, 2020), especially for speech (Díaz et al, 2008;Fuhrmeister & Myers, 2021;Kajiura et al, 2021;Mankel, Barber, et al, 2020;Wong et al, 2007). More successful learners show greater neural activation, particularly in auditory cortex (Díaz et al, 2008;Kajiura et al, 2021;Wong et al, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition to differences in functional processing, individual categorization abilities may be partially driven by preexisting structural advantages within the brain (Fuhrmeister & Myers, 2021). Paralleling the left hemisphere bias for speech (Binder et al, 2004;Bouton et al, 2018;Lee et al, 2012;Myers et al, 2009), categorization of musical sounds is believed to involve a frontotemporal network in the right hemisphere, including key brain regions such as the primary auditory cortex (PAC), superior temporal gyrus (STG), and inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) (Bidelman & Walker, 2019;Klein & Zatorre, 2011, 2015Mankel, Barber, et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Functional plasticity coupled with structural predispositions in auditory cortex shape successful music category learning

Mankel

Shrestha

Tipirneni-Sajja

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Categorizing sounds into meaningful groups helps listeners more efficiently process the auditory scene and is a foundational skill for speech perception and language development. Yet, how auditory categories develop in the brain through learning, particularly for nonspeech sounds, is not well understood. Here, we asked musically naïve listeners to complete a brief (~20 min) training session where they learned to identify sounds from a nonspeech continuum (minor-major 3rd musical intervals). We used multichannel EEG to track behaviorally relevant neuroplastic changes in the auditory event-related potentials (ERPs) pre- to post-training. To rule out mere exposure-induced changes, neural effects were evaluated against a control group of 14 nonmusicians who did not undergo training. We also compared individual categorization performance with structural volumetrics of bilateral primary auditory cortex (PAC) from MRI to evaluate neuroanatomical substrates of learning. Behavioral performance revealed steeper (i.e., more categorical) identification functions in the posttest that correlated with better training accuracy. At the neural level, improvement in learners' behavioral identification was characterized by smaller P2 amplitudes at posttest, particularly over right hemisphere. Critically, learning-related changes in the ERPs were not observed in control listeners, ruling out mere exposure effects. Learners also showed smaller and thinner PAC bilaterally, indicating superior categorization was associated with structural differences in primary auditory brain regions. Collectively, our data suggest successful auditory categorical learning of nonspeech sounds is characterized by short-term functional changes (i.e., greater post-training efficiency) in sensory coding processes superimposed on preexisting structural differences in bilateral auditory cortex.

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Section: Neuroanatomical Correlates Of Auditory Category Learningmentioning

confidence: 99%