Neural mechanisms underlying auditory spatial processing of multiple sound sources

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K00221
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Cognitive science
• Research Institution: National Institute of Information and Communications Technology
• Principal Investigator: Callan Akiko 国立研究開発法人情報通信研究機構, 脳情報通信融合研究センター脳機能解析研究室, 主任研究員 (80395178)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: ｆMRI / 空間知覚 / 聴覚 / 選択的注意 / 脳機能 / 音源定位 / 神経機構

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Compare to vision, neural mechanisms of auditory spatial perception are still unknown. In this study, we conducted several fMRI experiments to reveal 1)neural mechanisms associated with auditory spatial processing of multiple sound sources, 2)neural effects of spatial selective attention on auditory spatial processing and 3) neural correlates of spatial processing for 360°azimuthal directions. Our results show 1) more spatially separated sounds activate the posterior superior temporal gyrus (pSTG), 2)selective attention enhanced activity in the precuneus and pSTG,and 3)pSTG activity is associated with auditory spatial processing for 360°azimuthal directions. We believe that these findings will enhance our knowledge about neural mechanisms of human auditory spatial perception.

Free Research Field

認知科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

複数の音源が混在している環境で、音源を分離し、関心のある音を選択的に処理する能力（選択的注意、例、カクテルパーティ効果）は、人間の大切な能力の一つであり、選択的注意の低下は、難聴者や高齢者のＱＯＬ(Quality Of Life)に直結している。本研究の成果は、複数音源混在環境における音源定位の神経機構の解明を進め、難聴者や高齢者のＱＯＬの向上に貢献できると考える。