title: Phonetic training and non-native speech perception--New memory traces evolve in just three days as indexed by the mismatch negativity (MMN) and behavioural measures.
abstract: Language-specific, automatically responding memory traces form the basis for speech sound perception and new neural representations can also evolve for non-native speech categories. The aim of this study was to find out how a three-day phonetic listen-and-repeat training affects speech perception, and whether it generates new memory traces. We used behavioural identification, goodness rating, discrimination, and reaction time tasks together with mismatch negativity (MMN) brain response registrations to determine the training effects on native Finnish speakers. We trained the subjects the voicing contrast in fricative sounds. Fricatives are not differentiated by voicing in Finnish, i.e., voiced fricatives do not belong to the Finnish phonological system. Therefore, they are extremely hard for Finns to learn. However, only after three days of training, the native Finnish subjects had learned to perceive the distinction. The results show striking changes in the MMN response; it was significantly larger on the second day after two training sessions. Also, the majority of the behavioural indicators showed improvement during training. Identification altered after four sessions of training and discrimination and reaction times improved throughout training. These results suggest remarkable language-learning effects both at the perceptual and pre-attentive neural level as a result of brief listen-and-repeat training in adult participants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Phonetics, FIN-20014, University of Turku, Finland; Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, FIN-20014, University of Turku, Finland; LAB-lab, Department of Phonetics, FIN-20014, University of Turku, Finland. Electronic address: henna.tamminen@utu.fi.
authors.forename: Henna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tamminen
authors.affiliation: Department of Phonetics, FIN-20014, University of Turku, Finland; Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, FIN-20014, University of Turku, Finland; LAB-lab, Department of Phonetics, FIN-20014, University of Turku, Finland. Electronic address: maija.peltola@utu.fi.
authors.forename: Maija S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Peltola
authors.affiliation: Cicero Learning Network, P.O. Box 9, FIN-00014, University of Helsinki, Finland; Cognitive Brain Research Unit (CBRU), P.O. Box 9, Cognitive Science, Institute of Behavioural Sciences, FIN-00014, University of Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: teija.m.kujala@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: Teija
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kujala
authors.affiliation: Cognitive Brain Research Unit (CBRU), P.O. Box 9, Cognitive Science, Institute of Behavioural Sciences, FIN-00014, University of Helsinki, Finland; Institute of Psychology, University of Tartu, Estonia; Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience (CFIN), University of Århus, Denmark. Electronic address: risto.naatanen@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: Risto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Näätänen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D019303:Multilingualism; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D010700:Phonetics; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Mismatch negativity (MMN); Phonological processing; Speech perception; Training