Speech Perception with High Cognitive Demand

摘要 在背景噪声中理解语音是一项常见但费力的任务， 和认知过程。这些功能背后的神经系统中与抑郁症相关的衰退可能解释了 为什么噪音中的语音识别对老年人来说特别困难，即使是那些听力很少或没有听力的人 损失该项目将设计，实施和测试干预措施，培训自上而下，执行功能， 一项听觉任务，以提高听力正常的老年人在噪音中的语音识别能力。当前 一项提案系统地测试了噪声中的语音识别可以通过以下方式提高的总体假设： 专门针对交互式神经系统的训练，这些系统是认知能力变化的基础。 处理年龄。三组实验将确定皮质活动的模式，1）与 噪声中语音识别的年龄相关变化，2）参与候选人训练练习，以及 3)这一点随着认知训练而改变。行为，神经（使用脑磁图，MEG），和 将在具有正常听力的健康年轻人和老年人中获得瞳孔扩张测量。具体地说， 目标1检验了噪声环境中与年龄相关的语音识别能力下降是由 听觉皮层活动的自上而下的调制。这项拟议的研究将审查年龄- 听觉皮层中语言的神经表征的相关变化与较差的语言有关 认知和更大的认知努力。AIM 1还测试了这些与年龄相关的衰退是否与 额叶皮层和颞叶皮层活动之间的关系较弱。目标2评估了 特定的认知任务引起听觉皮层活动的自上而下的调制。任务的地方更大 对域一般执行功能的需求（例如，抑制控制，工作记忆）的背景下， 听觉处理任务被预测为更鲁棒地调节额颞连接。目标3测试 认知训练后颞叶皮层活动自上而下调制的变化程度 预测噪声中语音识别的改进。与之前的研究相比， 被动控制组，目标3将测试的预测，综合认知训练计划 产生增加的额颞连接，从而在噪声和减少的听力中更好地识别语音 与积极训练的对照组相比。通过增加我们对衰老大脑的理解，我们的目标是 制定有效的干预措施，以改善老年人的语音识别和整体生活质量。

ABSTRACT Understanding speech in background noise is a common, yet effortful task that involves interactive auditory and cognitive processes. Age-related declines in the neural systems that underlie these functions may explain why speech-in-noise recognition is especially difficult for older adults, even for those with little to no hearing loss. This project will design, implement, and test interventions that train top-down, executive functions within an auditory task in order to improve speech recognition in noise for older normal-hearing adults. The current proposal systematically tests the overarching hypothesis that speech recognition in noise can be improved via training that specifically targets the interactive neural systems that underlie changes in auditory-cognitive processing with age. Three sets of experiments will identify patterns of cortical activity that 1) are associated with age-related changes in speech recognition in noise, 2) are engaged with candidate training exercises, and 3) that change with auditory-cognitive training. Behavioral, neural (using magnetoencephalography, MEG), and pupil dilation measures will be obtained in healthy younger and older adults with normal hearing. Specifically, Aim 1 tests the hypothesis that age-related declines in speech recognition in noise are predicted by changes in top-down modulation of auditory cortex activity. The proposed study will examine the extent to which age- related changes in the neural representation of speech in auditory cortex are associated with poorer speech recognition and greater cognitive effort. Aim 1 also tests whether these age-related declines are associated with a weaker relationship between frontal and temporal cortex activity. Aim 2 evaluates the extent to which specific auditory-cognitive tasks elicit top-down modulation of auditory cortex activity. Tasks that place greater demands on domain-general executive functions (e.g., inhibitory control, working memory) in the context of an auditory processing task are predicted to more robustly modulate frontal-temporal connectivity. Aim 3 tests the extent to which changes in top-down modulation of temporal cortex activity following auditory-cognitive training predict improvements in speech recognition in noise. In contrast to previous studies that have employed passive control groups, Aim 3 will test the prediction that an integrated auditory-cognitive training program yields increased frontal-temporal connectivity and thus better speech recognition in noise and reduced listening effort compared to an active training control group. By increasing our understanding of the aging brain, we aim to develop effective interventions to improve speech recognition and the overall quality of life of older adults.