Relationship of frequency-pattern training to speech perception

Authors

  • Stanley Sheft Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
  • Valeriy Shafiro Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
  • Kristen Cortese Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA

Abstract

Though discrimination of frequency patterns can relate to speech perception and the discrimination ability generally improves with training, the relationship between the training and speech perception is not known. Training regimens typically utilize simple repetition of the discrimination or identification trials. In the current work, the training protocol was based on interactive pattern reconstruction, increasing memory demands to accentuate learning. With either four- or five-tone patterns, the task was to assemble the constituent tones in the correct order. Tones were randomly selected from logarithmically scaled distributions (frequency: 400-1750 Hz, duration: 75-600 ms). In training but not test sessions, listeners were allowed multiple repetitions of the intact pattern to self-correct their interim response. To assess relationship to speech abilities, the same task was used in pre- and post-training measures with the tonal pattern replaced by samples of sinewave speech (SWS). Despite a high level of stimulus uncertainty, results showed a significant stimulus-specific benefit of training. Small but significant improvement in SWS intelligibility between pre- and posttest sessions was also obtained with greater relationship between results from intelligibility and pattern-reconstruction conditions post training.

References

Foxton, J.M., Brown, A.C.B., Chambers, S., and Griffiths, T.D. (2004). “Training improves acoustic pattern perception,” Current Biol., 14, 322-325.

Gaab, N., Gaser, C., and Schlaug, G. (2006). “Improvement-related functional plasticity following pitch memory training,” Neuroimage, 31, 255-263.

Sheft, S., Risley, R., and Shafiro, V. (2012a). “Clinical measures of static and dynamic spectral-pattern discrimination in relationship to speech perception,” in Speech Perception and Auditory Disorders. Edited by T. Dau, M.L. Jepsen, T. Poulsen, and J.C. Dalsgaard (Danavox Jubilee Fndn., Ballerup), pp. 481-488.

Sheft, S., Shafiro, V., Lorenzi, C., McMullen, R., and Farrell, C. (2012b). “Effects of age and hearing loss on the relationship between discrimination of stochastic frequency modulation and speech perception,” Ear Hearing, 33, 709-720.

Tervaniemi, M., Rytkönen, M., Schröger, E., Ilmoniemi, R.J., and Näätänen, R. (2001). “Superior formation of cortical memory traces for melodic patterns in musicians,” Learn. Memory, 8, 295-300.

Watson, C.S., Kelly, W.J., and Wroton, H.W. (1976). “Factors in the discrimination of tonal patterns. II. Selective attention and learning under various levels of stimulus uncertainty,” J. Acoust. Soc. Am., 60, 1176-1186.

Wright, B.A., Wilson, R.M., and Sabin, A.T. (2010). “Generalization lags behind learning on an auditory perceptual task,” J. Neurosci., 30, 11635-11639.

Downloads

Published

2013-12-15

How to Cite

Sheft, S., Shafiro, V., & Cortese, K. (2013). Relationship of frequency-pattern training to speech perception. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Auditory and Audiological Research, 4, 53–60. Retrieved from https://proceedings.isaar.eu/index.php/isaarproc/article/view/2013-06

Issue

Section

2013/1. Basic perceptual studies of training, learning, and generalization