Electrophysiological evidence for an early processing of human voices

Charest, I., Pernet, C., Rousselet, G., Quinones, I., Latinus, M., Fillion-Bilodeau, S., Chartrand, J.-P. and Belin, P. (2009) Electrophysiological evidence for an early processing of human voices. BMC Neuroscience, 10(127), (doi: 10.1186/1471-2202-10-127) (PMID:19843323) (PMCID:PMC2770575)

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Abstract

Background Previous electrophysiological studies have identified a "voice specific response" (VSR) peaking around 320 ms after stimulus onset, a latency markedly longer than the 70 ms needed to discriminate living from non-living sound sources and the 150 ms to 200 ms needed for the processing of voice paralinguistic qualities. In the present study, we investigated whether an early electrophysiological difference between voice and non-voice stimuli could be observed. Results ERPs were recorded from 32 healthy volunteers who listened to 200 ms long stimuli from three sound categories - voices, bird songs and environmental sounds - whilst performing a pure-tone detection task. ERP analyses revealed voice/non-voice amplitude differences emerging as early as 164 ms post stimulus onset and peaking around 200 ms on fronto-temporal (positivity) and occipital (negativity) electrodes. Conclusion Our electrophysiological results suggest a rapid brain discrimination of sounds of voice, termed the "fronto-temporal positivity to voices" (FTPV), at latencies comparable to the well-known face-preferential N170.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Latinus, Dr Marianne and Belin, Professor Pascal
Authors: Charest, I., Pernet, C., Rousselet, G., Quinones, I., Latinus, M., Fillion-Bilodeau, S., Chartrand, J.-P., and Belin, P.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
College of Science and Engineering > School of Psychology
Journal Name:BMC Neuroscience
Publisher:Biomed Central
ISSN:1471-2202

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
429751The perception of voice gender and identity - a combined behavioural, electrophysiological and neuroimaging approachPascal BelinBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)BB/E003958/1INP - CENTRE FOR COGNITIVE NEUROIMAGING