A5083061167- Neuroscience and Music Perception
- Hearing Loss and Rehabilitation
- Music and Audio Processing
- Phonetics and Phonology Research
- Neural dynamics and brain function
- Multisensory perception and integration
- Reading and Literacy Development
- Diverse Music Education Insights
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Music Technology and Sound Studies
- Speech and Audio Processing
- Cognitive and developmental aspects of mathematical skills
- Language Development and Disorders
- EEG and Brain-Computer Interfaces
- Neurobiology of Language and Bilingualism
- Music Therapy and Health
- Tactile and Sensory Interactions
- Acoustic Wave Phenomena Research
- Action Observation and Synchronization
- Diverse Musicological Studies
- Cancer-related molecular mechanisms research
- EFL/ESL Teaching and Learning
- Child and Animal Learning Development
- Vehicle Noise and Vibration Control
- Noise Effects and Management
Birkbeck, University of London
2017-2025
Northwestern University
2011-2024
Neurosciences Institute
2008-2024
University of London
2023
University College London
2022-2023
Tohoku University
2022
Kanagawa University
2022
Lancaster University
2020
Universität Hamburg
2020
Midwestern University
2012
In contrast to vision, where retinotopic mapping alone can define areal borders, primary auditory areas such as A1 are best delineated by combining in vivo tonotopic with postmortem cyto- or myeloarchitectonics from the same individual. We combined high-resolution (800 μm) quantitative T 1 phase-encoded methods map (A1 and R) within “auditory core” of human volunteers. first quantitatively characterize highly myelinated core terms shape, area, cortical depth profile, position, our data...
Significance Sensitivity to fine timing cues in speech is thought play a key role language learning, facilitating the development of phonological processing. In fact, link between beat synchronization, which requires auditory–motor synchrony, and skills has been found school-aged children, as well adults. Here, we show this relationship entrainment metrics preschoolers use synchronization ability predict precision neural encoding syllables these emergent readers. By establishing links...
Both music and language are found in all known human societies, yet no studies have compared similarities differences between song, speech, instrumental on a global scale. In this Registered Report, we analyzed two datasets: (i) 300 annotated audio recordings representing matched sets of traditional songs, recited lyrics, conversational melodies from our 75 coauthors speaking 55 languages; (ii) 418 previously published adult-directed song speech 209 individuals 16 languages. Of six...
The ability to synchronize movement a steady beat is fundamental skill underlying musical performance and has been studied for decades as model of sensorimotor synchronization. Nevertheless, little known about the neural correlates individual differences in beat. In particular, links between auditory-motor synchronization characteristics brain's response sound have not yet explored. Given direct connections inferior colliculus (IC) subcortical motor structures, we hypothesized that...
Significance We show that in-school music training changes the course of adolescent brain development. Relative to an active control group shows expected wane in subcortical response consistency, adolescents undertaking maintained heightened neural consistency throughout high school. The also exhibited earlier emergence adult cortical response, suggesting accelerates neurodevelopment. These seem benefit literacy skills: both groups improved phonological awareness relative general population,...
Human song exhibits great structural diversity, yet certain aspects of melodic shape (how pitch is patterned over time) are widespread. These include a predominance arch-shaped and descending contours in musical phrases, tendency for phrase-final notes to be relatively long, bias toward small movements between adjacent melody [Huron D (2006) Sweet Anticipation: Music the Psychology Expectation (MIT Press, Cambridge, MA)]. What origin these features? We hypothesize that they stem from motor...
It is normally obvious to listeners whether a human vocalization intended be heard as speech or song. However, the 2 signals are remarkably similar acoustically. A naturally occurring boundary case between and song has been discovered where spoken phrase sounds if it were sung when isolated repeated. In present study, an extensive search of audiobooks uncovered additional examples, which contrasted with samples from same corpus that do not sound like song, despite containing clear prosodic...
Phonological skills are enhanced by music training, but the mechanisms enabling this cross-domain enhancement remain unknown. To explain transfer, we propose a precise auditory timing hypothesis (PATH) whereby entrainment practice is core mechanism underlying phonological abilities in musicians. Both rhythmic synchronization and language such as consonant discrimination, detection of word phrase boundaries, conversational turn-taking rely on perception extremely fine-grained details sound....
Should music be a priority in public education? One argument for teaching school is that private instruction relates to enhanced language abilities and neural function. However, the directionality of this relationship unclear it unknown whether school-based training can produce these enhancements. Here we show 2 years group classes high enhance encoding speech. To tease apart relationships between function, tested students participating either or fitness-based training. These groups were...
Abstract The neural resonance theory of musical meter explains beat tracking as the result entrainment oscillations to frequency and its higher harmonics. This has gained empirical support from experiments using simple, abstract stimuli. However, date there been no evidence for a role in perception ecologically valid music. Here we presented participants with single pop song superimposed bassoon sound. stimulus was either lined up music or shifted away by 25% average interbeat interval. Both...
Rhythmic entrainment, or beat synchronization, provides an opportunity to understand how multiple systems operate together integrate sensory-motor information. Also, synchronization is essential component of musical performance that may be enhanced through training. Investigations rhythmic entrainment have revealed a developmental trajectory across the lifespan, showing improves with age and experience. Here, we explore development maintenance in childhood older adulthood large cohort...
Closed-set tests of spoken word recognition are frequently used in clinical settings to assess the speech discrimination skills hearing-impaired listeners, particularly children. Speech scientists have reported robust effects lexical competition and talker variability open-set tasks but not closed-set tasks, suggesting that may be valid assessments skills. The goal current study was explore some task demands might account for this fundamental difference between tasks. In a series four...
The present study investigated a possible link between musical training and immediate memory span by testing experienced musicians three groups of musically inexperienced subjects (gymnasts, Psychology 101 students, video game players) on sequence word familiarity tasks.By including skilled gymnasts who began studying their craft age six, players, students as comparison groups, we attempted to control for some the ways may differ from participants drawn general population in terms gross...
There has recently been renewed interest in using quantitative data to explore questions about musical universals. One explanation for certain universals is that they reflect ways of singing are most energetically efficient, as opposed biological specializations human music. Previous research found support this “motor constraint hypothesis” by comparing pitch contour shapes samples and avian songs, but the sample songs was limited notated scores European Chinese folk from Essen database....
Abstract Durational patterns provide cues to linguistic structure, thus so variations in rhythm skills may have consequences for language development. Understanding individual differences skills, therefore, could help explain variability abilities across the population. We investigated neural foundations of rhythmic proficiency and its relation young adults. hypothesized that can be characterized by at least two constructs, which are tied independent profiles. Specifically, we require...
Abstract Scholars have extensively investigated the effectiveness of high variability phonetic training (HVPT), that is, identification and discrimination second language speech sounds produced by multiple speakers followed trial‐by‐trial feedback. Building on notion incidental multimodal learning in cognitive psychology (e.g., Lim & Holt, 2011), we developed a new, HVPT‐based videogame paradigm which participants aimed to shoot clay targets as fast possible while being guided learn...
Grid cells in human entorhinal cortex encode spatial layouts for real-world navigation, yet their role conceptual navigation remains unclear. Here we show that mentally transforming tones within a purely auditory pitch-duration space engages circuits, and such resources are causally necessary. In Experiment 1, participants trained five days to navigate through space, then underwent fMRI on Day 6. We observed six-fold modulation of BOLD signals aligned each participant's trajectory angles,...
Prior research on categorization of a vocalization as speech versus song has focused how stimulus characteristics are mapped onto the boundary between these domains. It remains an open question, therefore, whether and can shift based context surrounding stimulus. In Experiment 1 participants categorized stimuli which varied along continuum from to song. These ambiguous were preceded by adaptor either unambiguous or speech. Stimuli rated more song-like, while speech-like. 2 data previous...
Computational models of auditory salience predict that acoustic change and divergence from prediction increase the sound streams. Confirming these predictions, prior research has shown unpredictable features are linked to increases in physiological arousal disruption concurrent task performance. However, it remains unclear whether linguistic features, such as phonemic lexical/semantic surprisal, help drive attentional orienting, or instead capture takes place analysis. To address this...
Some spoken phrases, when heard repeatedly, seem to transform into music, in a classic finding known as the speech-to-song illusion. Repeated listening musical phrases can also lead changes liking, attributed learning-related reduction of prediction errors generated by dopaminergic reward system. Does repeating result liking? Here we tested whether repeated presentation liking well musicality, and these might vary with sensitivity. We asked perceptual biases towards low versus high...
The evolution of music, speech, and sociality have been debated since before Darwin. social bonding hypothesis proposes that these phenomena may be interlinked: musicality facilitated the beyond possibilities spoken language. Although dozens experimental studies argued synchronised rhythms can promote bonding, methodological issues including publication bias, sample experimenter effects, appropriateness controls make it unclear whether synchronous singing reliably generally enhances relative...