Contribution of cognitive functions, musical abilities, and auditory scene analysis to speech-in-noise perception

JASA Express Lett. 2026 Jun 1;6(6):064401. doi: 10.1121/10.0043926.

Abstract

Executive functions and linguistic abilities positively relate to speech perception in noise (SiN) in adults. Musical expertise and auditory scene analysis (ASA) also appear to support this complex task, although their respective contributions remain unclear. This study was aimed at disentangling the complex relationships between auditory, cognitive, and linguistic factors, supporting SiN in adults with typical hearing. Results indicated that working memory contributes to attentive tracking (a component of ASA), which, in turn, supports SiN. Musical abilities contribute to streaming, which underlies attentive tracking. ASA likely mediates the impact of cognitive or musical abilities on SiN.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attention
  • Auditory Perception*
  • Cognition* / physiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Memory, Short-Term
  • Music*
  • Noise*
  • Speech Perception* / physiology
  • Young Adult