Defining the Role of Attention in Hierarchical Auditory Processing
Communication in noise is a complex process requiring efficient neural encoding throughout the entire auditory pathway as well as contributions from higher-order cognitive processes (i.e., attention) to extract speech cues for perception. Thus, identifying effective clinical interventions for indivi...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Audiology Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4349/11/1/12 |
| _version_ | 1797541501645881344 |
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| author | Caitlin N. Price Deborah Moncrieff |
| author_facet | Caitlin N. Price Deborah Moncrieff |
| author_sort | Caitlin N. Price |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Communication in noise is a complex process requiring efficient neural encoding throughout the entire auditory pathway as well as contributions from higher-order cognitive processes (i.e., attention) to extract speech cues for perception. Thus, identifying effective clinical interventions for individuals with speech-in-noise deficits relies on the disentanglement of bottom-up (sensory) and top-down (cognitive) factors to appropriately determine the area of deficit; yet, how attention may interact with early encoding of sensory inputs remains unclear. For decades, attentional theorists have attempted to address this question with cleverly designed behavioral studies, but the neural processes and interactions underlying attention’s role in speech perception remain unresolved. While anatomical and electrophysiological studies have investigated the neurological structures contributing to attentional processes and revealed relevant brain–behavior relationships, recent electrophysiological techniques (i.e., simultaneous recording of brainstem and cortical responses) may provide novel insight regarding the relationship between early sensory processing and top-down attentional influences. In this article, we review relevant theories that guide our present understanding of attentional processes, discuss current electrophysiological evidence of attentional involvement in auditory processing across subcortical and cortical levels, and propose areas for future study that will inform the development of more targeted and effective clinical interventions for individuals with speech-in-noise deficits. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:16:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f175e71e6752427ab87c605caf47580e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2039-4349 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:16:57Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Audiology Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-f175e71e6752427ab87c605caf47580e2023-11-21T10:20:25ZengMDPI AGAudiology Research2039-43492021-03-0111111212810.3390/audiolres11010012Defining the Role of Attention in Hierarchical Auditory ProcessingCaitlin N. Price0Deborah Moncrieff1Institute for Intelligent Systems, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USAInstitute for Intelligent Systems, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USACommunication in noise is a complex process requiring efficient neural encoding throughout the entire auditory pathway as well as contributions from higher-order cognitive processes (i.e., attention) to extract speech cues for perception. Thus, identifying effective clinical interventions for individuals with speech-in-noise deficits relies on the disentanglement of bottom-up (sensory) and top-down (cognitive) factors to appropriately determine the area of deficit; yet, how attention may interact with early encoding of sensory inputs remains unclear. For decades, attentional theorists have attempted to address this question with cleverly designed behavioral studies, but the neural processes and interactions underlying attention’s role in speech perception remain unresolved. While anatomical and electrophysiological studies have investigated the neurological structures contributing to attentional processes and revealed relevant brain–behavior relationships, recent electrophysiological techniques (i.e., simultaneous recording of brainstem and cortical responses) may provide novel insight regarding the relationship between early sensory processing and top-down attentional influences. In this article, we review relevant theories that guide our present understanding of attentional processes, discuss current electrophysiological evidence of attentional involvement in auditory processing across subcortical and cortical levels, and propose areas for future study that will inform the development of more targeted and effective clinical interventions for individuals with speech-in-noise deficits.https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4349/11/1/12speech perception in noisecentral auditory deficitstheories of attentionelectrophysiology |
| spellingShingle | Caitlin N. Price Deborah Moncrieff Defining the Role of Attention in Hierarchical Auditory Processing Audiology Research speech perception in noise central auditory deficits theories of attention electrophysiology |
| title | Defining the Role of Attention in Hierarchical Auditory Processing |
| title_full | Defining the Role of Attention in Hierarchical Auditory Processing |
| title_fullStr | Defining the Role of Attention in Hierarchical Auditory Processing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Defining the Role of Attention in Hierarchical Auditory Processing |
| title_short | Defining the Role of Attention in Hierarchical Auditory Processing |
| title_sort | defining the role of attention in hierarchical auditory processing |
| topic | speech perception in noise central auditory deficits theories of attention electrophysiology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4349/11/1/12 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT caitlinnprice definingtheroleofattentioninhierarchicalauditoryprocessing AT deborahmoncrieff definingtheroleofattentioninhierarchicalauditoryprocessing |