title: Pitch perception and frequency-following responses elicited by lexical-tone chimeras.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous research has shown the usefulness of utilizing auditory chimeras in assessing a listener's perception of the envelope and fine structure for an acoustic stimulus. However, research comparing and contrasting behavioral and electrophysiological responses to this stimulus type is scarce.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two sets of chimeric stimuli were constructed by interchanging the envelopes and fine-structures of the rising/yi(2)/and falling/yi(4)/Mandarin pitch contours that were filtered through 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 frequency banks. Behavioral pitch-perception tasks were administered through a two-alternative, forced-choice paradigm. Electrophysiological responses were measured through scalp-recorded frequency-following responses (FFRs) to the lexical-tone chimeras.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty American and twenty Chinese adults were recruited.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A two-way analysis of variance showed significance (p < 0.05) within and across the filter bank and language background factors for the behavioral measurements, while the frequency-following response demonstrated a significance only across the filter banks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Perceptual importance of envelope cues increases starting from 16 filter banks, while the FFR accuracy and magnitude decreases with increasing number of filter banks. These results can be useful in assessing experience-dependent neuroplasticity and in designing speech processing strategies for cochlear-implant users who speak tonal or non-tonal languages around the globe.
authors: a Communication Sciences and Disorders , Ohio University , Athens , USA and.
authors: Fuh-Cherng
authors: FC
authors: Jeng
authors: b Department of Otolaryngology-HNS , China Medical University Hospital , Taichung , Taiwan.
authors: Chia-Der
authors: CD
authors: Lin
authors: a Communication Sciences and Disorders , Ohio University , Athens , USA and.
authors: John T
authors: JT
authors: Sabol
authors: a Communication Sciences and Disorders , Ohio University , Athens , USA and.
authors: Grant R
authors: GR
authors: Hollister
authors: b Department of Otolaryngology-HNS , China Medical University Hospital , Taichung , Taiwan.
authors: Meng-Shih
authors: MS
authors: Chou
authors: b Department of Otolaryngology-HNS , China Medical University Hospital , Taichung , Taiwan.
authors: Ching-Hua
authors: CH
authors: Chen
authors: a Communication Sciences and Disorders , Ohio University , Athens , USA and.
authors: Jessica E
authors: JE
authors: Kenny
authors: b Department of Otolaryngology-HNS , China Medical University Hospital , Taichung , Taiwan.
authors: Yung-An
authors: YA
authors: Tsou
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002678:Chimera; D002681:China; D003463:Cues; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D010700:Phonetics; D010898:Pitch Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Auditory chimera; brainstem; frequency-following response