Neural indices of listening effort in noisy environments

Sci Rep. 2019 Aug 2;9(1):11278. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-47643-1.

Abstract

Listening in a noisy environment is challenging for individuals with normal hearing and can be a significant burden for those with hearing impairment. The extent to which this burden is alleviated by a hearing device is a major, unresolved issue for rehabilitation. Here, we found adult users of cochlear implants (CIs) self-reported listening effort during a speech-in-noise task that was positively related to alpha oscillatory activity in the left inferior frontal cortex, canonical Broca's area, and inversely related to speech envelope coherence in the 2-5 Hz range originating in the superior-temporal plane encompassing auditory cortex. Left frontal cortex coherence in the 2-5 Hz range also predicted speech-in-noise identification. These data demonstrate that neural oscillations predict both speech perception ability in noise and listening effort.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Acoustic Stimulation
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Auditory Cortex / physiology*
  • Auditory Perception / physiology
  • Brain Mapping
  • Broca Area / physiology*
  • Cochlear Implantation / methods
  • Female
  • Frontal Lobe / physiology*
  • Hearing Loss / diagnostic imaging
  • Hearing Loss / physiopathology
  • Hearing Tests
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Noise / adverse effects
  • Speech Perception / physiology*