title: Linguistic Bias Modulates Interpretation of Speech via Neural Delta-Band Oscillations.
abstract: Language comprehension requires that single words be grouped into syntactic phrases, as words in sentences are too many to memorize individually. In speech, acoustic and syntactic grouping patterns mostly align. However, when ambiguous sentences allow for alternative grouping patterns, comprehenders may form phrases that contradict speech prosody. While delta-band oscillations are known to track prosody, we hypothesized that linguistic grouping bias can modulate the interpretational impact of speech prosody in ambiguous situations, which should surface in delta-band oscillations when grouping patterns chosen by comprehenders differ from those indicated by prosody. In our auditory electroencephalography study, the interpretation of ambiguous sentences depended on whether an identical word was either followed by a prosodic boundary or not, thereby signaling the ending or continuation of the current phrase. Delta-band oscillatory phase at the critical word should reflect whether participants terminate a phrase despite a lack of acoustic boundary cues. Crossing speech prosody with participants' grouping choice, we observed a main effect of grouping choice-independent of prosody. An internal linguistic bias for grouping words into phrases can thus modulate the interpretational impact of speech prosody via delta-band oscillatory phase.
authors: Department of Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, 04303 Leipzig, Germany.
authors: Lars
authors: L
authors: Meyer
authors: Brain and Mind Institute, University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada  N6G 1H1.
authors: Molly J
authors: MJ
authors: Henry
authors: Department of Linguistics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD20742-7505, USA.
authors: Phoebe
authors: P
authors: Gaston
authors: Department of English and Linguistics, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
authors: Noura
authors: N
authors: Schmuck
authors: Department of Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, 04303 Leipzig, Germany.
authors: Angela D
authors: AD
authors: Friederici
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015982:Bias; D032882:Comprehension / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008037:Linguistics; D008297:Male; D011578:Psycholinguistics / Q000379:methods; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology*; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: delta band; electroencephalography; language; neural oscillations; speech comprehension