Document Detail


Neural Mechanisms of Rhythmic Masking Release in Monkey Primary Auditory Cortex: Implications for Models of Auditory Scene Analysis.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  22323627     Owner:  NLM     Status:  Publisher    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The ability to detect and track relevant acoustic signals embedded in a background of other sounds is crucial for hearing in complex acoustic environments. This ability is exemplified by a perceptual phenomenon known as 'rhythmic masking release' (RMR). To demonstrate RMR, a sequence of tones forming a target rhythm is intermingled with physically identical 'Distracter' sounds that perceptually mask the rhythm. The rhythm can be 'released from masking' by adding 'Flanker' tones in adjacent frequency channels that are synchronous with the Distracters. RMR represents a special case of auditory stream segregation, whereby the target rhythm is perceptually segregated from the background of Distracters when they are accompanied by the synchronous Flankers. The neural basis of RMR is unknown. Previous studies suggest the involvement of primary auditory cortex (A1) in the perceptual organization of sound patterns. Here, we recorded neural responses to RMR sequences in A1 of awake monkeys in order to identify neural correlates and potential mechanisms of RMR. We also tested whether two current models of stream segregation, when applied to these responses, can account for the perceptual organization of RMR sequences. Results suggest a key role for suppression of Distracter-evoked responses by the simultaneous Flankers in the perceptual restoration of the target rhythm in RMR. Furthermore, predictions of stream segregation models paralleled the psychoacoustics of RMR in humans. These findings reinforce the view that pre-attentive or 'primitive' aspects of auditory scene analysis may be explained by relatively basic neural mechanisms at the cortical level.
Authors:
Yonatan I Fishman; Christophe Micheyl; Mitchell Steinschneider
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Publication Detail:
Type:  JOURNAL ARTICLE     Date:  2012-2-8
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of neurophysiology     Volume:  -     ISSN:  1522-1598     ISO Abbreviation:  -     Publication Date:  2012 Feb 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2012-2-10     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0375404     Medline TA:  J Neurophysiol     Country:  -    
Other Details:
Languages:  ENG     Pagination:  -     Citation Subset:  -    
Affiliation:
1Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
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