Auditory detection is modulated by theta phase of silent lip movements

Biau, E., Wang, D., Park, H. , Jensen, O. and Hanslmayr, S. (2021) Auditory detection is modulated by theta phase of silent lip movements. Current Research in Neurobiology, 2, 100014. (doi: 10.1016/j.crneur.2021.100014)

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Abstract

Audiovisual speech perception relies, among other things, on our expertise to map a speaker's lip movements with speech sounds. This multimodal matching is facilitated by salient syllable features that align lip movements and acoustic envelope signals in the 4–8 Hz theta band. Although non-exclusive, the predominance of theta rhythms in speech processing has been firmly established by studies showing that neural oscillations track the acoustic envelope in the primary auditory cortex. Equivalently, theta oscillations in the visual cortex entrain to lip movements, and the auditory cortex is recruited during silent speech perception. These findings suggest that neuronal theta oscillations may play a functional role in organising information flow across visual and auditory sensory areas. We presented silent speech movies while participants performed a pure tone detection task to test whether entrainment to lip movements directs the auditory system and drives behavioural outcomes. We showed that auditory detection varied depending on the ongoing theta phase conveyed by lip movements in the movies. In a complementary experiment presenting the same movies while recording participants' electro-encephalogram (EEG), we found that silent lip movements entrained neural oscillations in the visual and auditory cortices with the visual phase leading the auditory phase. These results support the idea that the visual cortex entrained by lip movements filtered the sensitivity of the auditory cortex via theta phase synchronization.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Hanslmayr, Professor Simon and Park, Dr Hyojin and Wang, Dr Danying
Authors: Biau, E., Wang, D., Park, H., Jensen, O., and Hanslmayr, S.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
Journal Name:Current Research in Neurobiology
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:2665-945X
ISSN (Online):2665-945X
Published Online:12 June 2021
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2021 The Authors
First Published:First published in Current Research in Neurobiology 2: 100014
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
313261Neural oscillations - a code for memorySimon HanslmayrEuropean Commission (EC)N/ANP - Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging (CCNi)
314597TIME - GLUING CROSS-MODAL MEMORIES VIA SYNCHRONISATIONSimon HanslmayrEconomic and Social Research Council (ESRC)ES/R010072/2NP - Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging (CCNi)