The mismatch negativity (MMN) in basic research of central auditory processing: a review.

Oscillatory gamma activity in humans and its role in object representation

In the present article, the basic research using the mismatch negativity (MMN) and analogous results obtained by using the magnetoencephalography (MEG) and other brain-imaging technologies is reviewed. This response is elicited by any discriminable change in auditory stimulation but recent studies extended the notion of the MMN even to higher-order cognitive processes such as those involving grammar and semantic meaning. Moreover, MMN data also show the presence of automatic intelligent processes such as stimulus anticipation at the level of auditory cortex. In addition, the MMN enables one to establish the brain processes underlying the initiation of attention switch to, conscious perception of, sound change in an unattended stimulus stream. 2007 International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

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Invited review The mismatch negativity (MMN) in basic research of central auditory processing: A review

The present article outlines the contribution of the mismatch negativity (MMN), and its magnetic equivalent MMNm, to our understanding of the perception of speech sounds in the human brain. MMN data indicate that each sound, both speech and nonspeech, develops its neural representation corresponding to the percept of this sound in the neurophysiological substrate of auditory sensory memory. The accuracy of this representation, determining the accuracy of the discrimination between different sounds, can be probed with MMN separately for any auditory feature (e.g., frequency or duration) or stimulus type such as phonemes. Furthermore, MMN data show that the perception of phonemes, and probably also of larger linguistic units (syllables and words), is based on language-specific phonetic traces developed in the posterior part of the left-hemisphere auditory cortex. These traces serve as recognition models for the corresponding speech sounds in listening to speech. MMN studies further suggest that these language-specific traces for the mother tongue develop during the first few months of life. Moreover, MMN can also index the development of such traces for a foreign language learned later in life. MMN data have also revealed the existence of such neuronal populations in the human brain that can encode acoustic invariances specific to each speech sound, which could explain correct speech perception irrespective of the acoustic variation between the different speakers and word context.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/1469-8986.3810001

The perception of speech sounds by the human brain as reflected by the mismatch negativity (MMN) and its magnetic equivalent (MMNm).

Synchronous Gamma activity: a review and contribution to an integrative neuroscience model of schizophrenia

Early and Late Mismatch Negativity Elicited by Words and Speech-Like Stimuli in Children

Automatic auditory word perception as measured by 40 Hz EEG responses.

An attention-independent negative wave-form termed 'mismatch negativity' (MMN) of the auditory event-related potentials (ERPs) was studied in ten children (3-6 years) with developmental dysphasia and in fourteen control children (3-7 years) with normal speech and language development. The MMNs were elicited with pure sine tone stimuli using the oddball paradigm. The peak latency and peak amplitude of MMN response to frequency (500/553 H 2 ) difference was measured. The grand average amplitude of frequency MMN was significantly attenuated in dysphasic children as compared to controls, but no significant difference was observed in the latency of peak frequency MMN. The results indicate that dysphasic children have a defect in automatic auditory processing of frequency differences. Because the MMN response reflects central auditory processing and is modal specific for auditory stimuli we argue that the MMN method can serve as an objective tool to assess central auditory deficits in children.

Pirjo Korpilahti

Papers

Early and Late Mismatch Negativity Elicited by Words and Speech-Like Stimuli in Children

Automatic auditory word perception as measured by 40 Hz EEG responses.

Attenuated auditory event-related potential (mismatch negativity) in children with developmental dysphasia.