Understanding the neural mechanisms for infants' perception of native and non-native speech

Liquan Liu; Varghese Peter; Michael D Tyler

doi:10.1016/j.bandl.2023.105279

Understanding the neural mechanisms for infants' perception of native and non-native speech

Brain Lang. 2023 Jul:242:105279. doi: 10.1016/j.bandl.2023.105279. Epub 2023 May 24.

Authors

Liquan Liu¹, Varghese Peter², Michael D Tyler³

Affiliations

¹ School of Psychology, Western Sydney University, Australia; The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Australia; Centre of Excellence for the Dynamics of Language, Australian Research Council, Australia; Center for Multilingualism in Society across the Lifespan, University of Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: l.liu@westernsydney.edu.au.
² School of Psychology, Western Sydney University, Australia; School of Health, University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia. Electronic address: vpeter@usc.edu.au.
³ School of Psychology, Western Sydney University, Australia; The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Australia; Centre of Excellence for the Dynamics of Language, Australian Research Council, Australia.

PMID: 37236016
DOI: 10.1016/j.bandl.2023.105279

Abstract

Though perceptual narrowing has been widely recognized as a process guiding cognitive development and category learning in infancy and early childhood, its neural mechanisms and traits at a cortical level remain unclear. Using an electroencephalography (EEG) abstract mismatch negativity (MMN) paradigm, Australian infants' neural sensitivity to (native) English and (non-native) Nuu-Chah-Nulth speech contrasts was examined in a cross-sectional design at the onset (5-6 months) and offset (11-12 months) of perceptual narrowing. Immature mismatch responses (MMR) were observed among younger infants for both contrasts, while older infants showed MMR response to the non-native contrast, and both MMR and MMN to the native contrast. Sensitivity to the Nuu-Chah-Nulth contrast at perceptual narrowing offset was retained yet stayed immature. Findings conform to perceptual assimilation theories, reflecting plasticity in early speech perception and development. Compared to behavioural paradigms, neural examination effectively reveals experience-induced processing differences to subtle contrasts at the offset of perceptual narrowing.

Keywords: Abstract mismatch negativity (MMN); Electroencephalography (EEG); Perceptual narrowing; Positive mismatch response (MMR); Speech perception.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Australia
Child, Preschool
Cross-Sectional Studies
Electroencephalography
Humans
Infant
Language Development
Speech Perception* / physiology
Speech*