Speech Perception with High Cognitive Demand

摘要 理解背景噪声中的语音是一项常见而又费力的任务，它涉及到交互听觉 和认知过程。构成这些功能的神经系统中与年龄相关的衰退可能解释了 为什么噪声中的语音识别对老年人来说尤其困难，即使是对听力很弱或没有听力的人也是如此 损失。该项目将设计、实施和测试培训自上而下的执行功能的干预措施 一种听觉任务，旨在提高听力正常的老年人在噪音中的语音识别能力。海流 Proposal系统地测试了主要假设，即噪声中的语音识别可以通过 专门针对作为听觉认知变化基础的交互神经系统的培训 随着年龄的增长而变化。三组实验将确定1)相关的大脑皮层活动模式 随着年龄的变化，噪声中的语音识别，2)参与候选训练练习，以及 3)这种情况会随着听觉认知训练的进行而改变。行为、神经(使用脑磁图，脑磁图) 对于听力正常的健康的年轻人和老年人，将采取扩瞳措施。具体来说， Aim 1验证了这一假设，即噪声中语音识别的年龄相关性下降是由脑电活动的变化预测的 自上而下调节听觉皮质活动。拟议的研究将审查年龄- 听觉皮质中言语的神经表征的相关变化与较差的言语有关 认可和更大的认知努力。AIM 1还测试了这些与年龄相关的下降是否相关 额叶和颞叶皮质活动之间的关系较弱。目标2评估以下方面的程度 特定的听觉-认知任务引起自上而下的听觉皮质活动的调节。放在更大位置的任务 对领域通用执行功能(例如，抑制控制、工作记忆)的需求 据预测，听觉处理任务将更有力地调节额-颞区连接。AIM 3测试 听-认知训练后颞叶皮质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。与之前的研究不同的是， 被动控制组，目标3将测试一个整合的听觉-认知训练计划的预测 提高额叶-颞叶的连通性，从而在噪音中更好地识别语音，减少听力 与积极的训练对照组相比，努力程度更高。通过增加我们对老化大脑的理解，我们的目标是 开发有效的干预措施，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.