Training in Morse code enhances involuntary attentional switching to acoustic frequency: Evidence from ERPs.
This study examined the possibility that learning Morse code could result in cortical changes in processing of physical acoustic features, as indexed by the mismatch negativity (MMN) and P3a components of the auditory event-related potential (ERP). ERPs were recorded in 9 subjects who were learning Morse code. The subjects were presented with auditory stimuli at 3 different times relative to their training (before, during and after). These stimuli were presented within an auditory 'oddball' paradigm, with repetitive standard stimuli interspersed by one of three infrequent deviant stimuli (duration, frequency or SOA). The data showed that there was a significant increase in the P3a only for frequency deviants as a function of training, whereas the MMN response was not affected by the training. These data are interpreted in terms of an attentional switching to unfamiliar changes that participants would not expect among the signals that they would grow to anticipate while receiving Morse code.
Uther
Maria
M
Cognitive Brain Research Unit, Department of Psychology, PO Box 9 FIN-00014, University of Helsinki, Finland. Maria.Uther@helsinki.fi
Kujala
Anu
A
Huotilainen
Minna
M
Shtyrov
Yury
Y
Näätänen
Risto
R
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D003265:Contingent Negative Variation; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors