Host: Prof. Xing Tian, NYU Shanghai
Abstract
The auditory system is wired to be sensitive to patterns in sound, this ability is crucial for the brain to comprehend and interact with its environment. My PhD explores several questions surrounding the cognitive processes and neural mechanisms underpinning the auditory system's sensitivity to patterns in human listeners. Today’s talk I will present the two neural imaging studies.
The first study explored the neural representations that support auditory pattern detection. Participants passively listened to predictable and unpredictable sound sequences while their brain responses were recorded with MEG. The MEG results align with predictive coding theory, revealing the coexistence of dual neural components involved in tracing auditory inputs. The sustained response, supported by a neural network encompassing the auditory cortex, hippocampus, and inferior frontal cortex, is associated with the precision. In contrast, the phasic response evoked by individual tones, primarily involving the auditory cortex and inferior frontal cortex, carries information of prediction errors.
The second study explores the challenges of detecting patterns in slowed-down sound sequences. It investigates how auditory short-term memory, sustained attention, frequency discrimination, and task engagement influence performance variability. The behavioral results indicate that only short-term memory significantly predicts pattern detection performance. Building on this finding, EEG was used to examine the correlation between cognitive abilities and implicit pattern detection. Participants passively listened to 5500 ms sound patterns while their EEG signals and behavioral performance were recorded. The results show a correlation between memory capacities and the neural correlates of pattern detection across participants. This suggests a shared mechanism underlying both auditory short-term memory and auditory scene analysis.
Biography
Dr Mingyue Hu is a researcher with background in biomedical science, medicine, and cognitive neuroscience. She earned a BSc in Biomedical Science from Queen Mary University of London (2013–2016) and a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from Nanchang University, China (2013–2018). Subsequently, she completed MSc in Clinical Neuroscience and a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London (UCL) from 2018 to 2024. Mingyue's PhD research focuses on auditory neuroscience, specifically the mechanisms underlying sensory processing and memory. Her work combines MEEG and behavioral methods, grounded in theoretical frameworks. She is set to begin a postdoctoral position in Yale University's Department of Neurosurgery, where her research will explore the neural mechanisms of memory, threat processing, and emotional valence in humans. The work will incorporate intracranial EEG, single-unit recordings, computational modeling, and AR/VR technologies.