On the early neural perceptual integrality of tones and vowels. (February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Choi, William; Tong, Xiuli; Gu, Feng; Tong, Xiuhong; Wong, Lena
• Is Part Of: Journal of neurolinguistics. Volume 41(2017)
• Page Start: 11
• Page End: 23
• Publication Date: 2017-02
• Subjects: Vowel -- Tone -- Perception -- Integral processing -- MMN -- MMN additivity -- TTRACE model; Neurolinguistics -- Periodicals; Language and languages -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Psycholinguistics -- Periodicals; Brain -- physiology -- Periodicals; Language -- physiology -- Periodicals; Neurolinguistique -- Périodiques; Langage et langues -- Aspect physiologique -- Périodiques; Psycholinguistique -- Périodiques; Language and languages -- Physiological aspects; Neurolinguistics; Psycholinguistics; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.855
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroling.2016.09.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0911-6044

Abstract

Abstract: The current study adopted the MMN additivity approach to examine the pre-attentive perceptual integration of vowels and tones. Twenty Cantonese listeners participated in the ERP experiment. Using the passive oddball paradigm, we elicited tone-MMN, vowel-MMN and double-MMN in the speech condition; and fundamental frequency-MMN, formant frequency-MMN and double-MMN in the non-speech condition. In both conditions, the double-MMNs were significantly smaller in amplitude than the sum of single feature MMNs. Morphological comparisons showed no significant difference in the latency and topographic patterns between vowel-MMN and tone-MMN, and marginal significant differences between formant frequency-MMN and fundamental frequency-MMN. Collectively, results reflect the perceptual integration of tones and vowels at the phonological level, and partial integration of fundamental frequency and formant frequency at the auditory level. Highlights: Findings. - Cantonese vowels and tones are perceptually integrated. - The perceptual integration of Cantonese vowels and tones occurs at auditory and phonological levels. Implications. - The perceptual integration of vowels and tones is consistent with the TTRACE model, but contrary to the modified TRACE model. - We propose the TTRACE+ model in which vowels and tones are viewed as the same phonological unit.