Work

Examining experienced lateralization of sounds over headphones with electroencephalography

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: In the search for the neural correlates of auditory consciousness, a candidate has been found using electroencephalography: the auditory awareness negativity (AAN). Earlier studies have investigated the AAN in response to lateralized sound. With headphones, there is a clear lateralization of AAN when two auditory lateralization cues are combined: the interaural level difference (ILD) and interaural time difference (ITD). To separate the contribution of these cues to a lateralized AAN, we tested three stimulus conditions with headphones: A combination of ILD and ITD, solely ITD, and monaural stimulation. Results suggest that ILD and ITD are required in conjunction for a lateralized AAN, and neither ITD nor monaural stimulation can yield a lateralized AAN. These results suggest that event-related potentials may be limited in measuring the lateralization of the neural correlates of auditory consciousness to lateralized sounds, depending on auditory cues and acoustic environment. • Auditory awareness negativity (AAN) a potential neural correlate of consciousness. • Sound is lateralized with differences in time or intensity between ears. • AAN is lateralized only to a combined difference in time and intensity. • AAN is limited as neural correlate of lateralized experience.

Source: Neuropsychologia

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2024.109064

Authors: Billy Gerdfeldter, Mingailė Greičiūtė, Stefan Wiens

Institution: Stockholm University

Language: English

Topic: Neuroscience and Music Perception

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,170

Funder: Marcus och Amalia Wallenbergs minnesfond