Generalization of perceptual learning of degraded speech across talkers

Jones Huyck, J., Smith, R. H. , Hawkins, S. and Johnsrude, I. S. (2017) Generalization of perceptual learning of degraded speech across talkers. Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research, 60(11), pp. 3334-3341. (doi: 10.1044/2017_JSLHR-H-16-0300) (PMID:28979990)

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Abstract

Purpose We investigated whether perceptual learning of noise-vocoded (NV) speech is specific to a particular talker or accent. Method Four groups of listeners (n = 18 per group) were first trained by listening to 20 NV sentences that had been recorded by a talker with either the same native accent as the listeners or a different regional accent. They then heard 20 novel NV sentences from either the native- or nonnative-accented talker (test), in a 2 × 2 (Training Talker per Accent × Test Talker per Accent) design. Results Word-report scores at test for participants trained and tested with the same (native- or nonnative-accented) talker did not differ from those for participants trained with 1 talker per accent and tested on another. Conclusions Learning of NV speech generalized completely between talkers. Two additional experiments confirmed this result. Thus, when listeners are trained to understand NV speech, they are not learning talker- or accent-specific features but instead are learning how to use the information available in the degraded signal. The results suggest that people with cochlear implants, who experience spectrally degraded speech, may not be too disadvantaged if they learn to understand speech through their implant by listening primarily to just 1 other talker, such as a spouse.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Smith, Dr Rachel
Authors: Jones Huyck, J., Smith, R. H., Hawkins, S., and Johnsrude, I. S.
College/School:College of Arts & Humanities > School of Critical Studies > English Language and Linguistics
Journal Name:Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research
Publisher:American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
ISSN:1092-4388
ISSN (Online):1558-9102
Published Online:09 November 2017
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2017 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
First Published:First published in Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research 60(11): 3334-3341
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

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