A brain region known as Heschl’s Gyrus has long been known for processing early hearing processing, but plays a much greater role than previously understood. Recently, it helps to interpret the meaning behind pitch, tone and subtle changes to meaningful information study Published in the journal Natural communication.
Scientists have long thought that deciphering these qualities – collectively referred to as total rhymes – occurred in excellent temporal gyrus, an area of the brain associated with language perception. However, experiments that monitored the brains of epilepsy patients challenge these assumptions.
Understand speech recognition
A rare set of situations led to discovery. As part of the treatment of severe epilepsy, 11 adolescent patients had electrodes implanted deeply into the brain parts that are important for key language function. Surgeries and experiments were performed at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. It represents the close cooperation between neurosurgeons and neuroscientists.
Communication and linguistics research usually relies on recordings from the skin surface. The method is minimally invasive, but not very accurate.
While patients were listening to the audiobook version of “Alice in Wonderland,” scientists monitored activity in multiple areas of the brain. The recording mapped subtle changes in readers’ voices to Hesil’s moments. Various parts of the brain responded to the sounds that made up the word.
“The results redefine our understanding of speech recognition architecture.” Barath Chandrasekarana university scientist and author of the paper, press release. “We have been studying the nuances of how speech is abstracted in the brain for decades, and this is the first study to examine the subtle variations in which the brain processes meaning conveys.”
read more: Five thought-provoking facts about brain function
Impact on AI
This study also showed that language rise and fall is encoded at an early stage in auditory processing much earlier than previously thought. A similar study conducted on non-human primates found that listening to the same recordings would not allow these brains to process these abstract meanings.
The discovery of the role Heschl’s Gyrus plays in the processing of speech affects several areas. This understanding complements speech rehabilitation, and allows for a better understanding of why AI-powered assistants make them more perceptive and makes human communication unique.
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Before joining Discover Magazine, Paul Smaglik spent more than 20 years as a science journalist specializing in US life science policy and global scientific career issues. He began his career in newspapers, but switched to science magazines. His works have appeared in publications such as Science News, Science, Nature, and Science American.
