Informational Masking in Aging and Brain-lesioned Individuals

• DOI: 10.1007/s10162-022-00877-9
• Publication Date: 2022-12-05T19:02:46Z
• Authors: Haleh Farahbod; Corianne Rogalsky; Lynsey M. Keator; Julia Cai; Sara B. Pillay; Katie Turner; Arianna LaCroix; Julius Fridriksson; Jeffrey R. Binder; John C. Middlebrooks; Gregory Hickok; Kourosh Saberi
• Keywords: Brain Aging; Backward masking

Abstract Auditory stream segregation and informational masking were investigated in brain-lesioned individuals, age-matched controls with no neurological disease, young college-age students. A psychophysical paradigm known as rhythmic release (RMR) was used to examine the ability of participants identify a change sequence 20-ms Gaussian noise bursts presented through headphones filtered generalized head-related transfer functions produce percept an externalized auditory image (i.e., 3D virtual reality sound). The target rhythm temporally interleaved masker comprising similar manner that resulted uniform information remaining about when from same location (an impossible task). Spatially separating sequences allowed determine if there midway during its presentation. RMR thresholds defined minimum spatial separation between 70.7% correct-performance level single-interval 2-alternative forced-choice adaptive tracking procedure. main findings (1) significantly higher for individuals brain lesions (especially those damage parietal areas) (2) left–right asymmetry performance lesion (but not control) participants. These contribute better understanding spatiotemporal relations neural bases scene analysis.