Speech could be older than we thought
Speech could have emerged earlier than the 200,000 years ago, long before current linguistic theory suggests.... Read More...
speech
Mild-to-moderate hearing loss in children leads to changes in how brain processes sound
The brain activity response to sound in older children with hearing loss was lower than their peers with normal hearing.... Read More...
Mechanisms of real-time speech interpretation in the human brain revealed
Study reveals the dynamic patterns of information flow between critical language regions of the brain.... Read More...
Sound deprivation in one ear leads to speech recognition difficulties
Ear infections and other conditions that cause hearing loss to one ear can cause nerve damage if left untreated. The damage may render the sufferer to difficulties in speech recognition and processing. ... Read More...
Map of broken brain networks shows why people lose speech in language-based dementia
Researchers have identified the location of dysfunctional brain networks that lead to impaired sentence production and word-finding in primary progressive aphasia (PPA). PPA can occur in those with neurodegenerative diseases, such as frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Mapping the networks allows clinicians to apply non-invasive brain stimulation to potentially improve speech in those with PPA. ... Read More...
Babbling babies’ behavior changes parents’ speech
Parents unconsciously modify their speech to include fewer unique words, shorter sentences, and one-word replies when their baby babbles, but not when they are simply speaking to the baby.... Read More...
Team IDs Spoken Words and Phrases in Real Time from Brain’s Speech Signals
Using ECoG and machine learning, researchers decoded spoken words and phrases in real-time from brain signals that control speech. The technology could eventually be used to help those who have lost vocal control to regain their voice.... Read More...
Sound mind: Detecting depression through voice
Artificial intelligence is now better able to detect depression by analyzing the sound of a person's voice. ... Read More...
Music helps develop spoken language for the hearing impaired
Music may help children with hearing impairments to develop spoken language skills. ... Read More...
Our brains appear uniquely tuned for musical pitch
Study of macaque monkeys reveals speech and music may have shaped the human brain's auditory networks. Researchers found specific areas of the human brain have a stronger preference for pitch than that of primates, raising the possibility certain sounds, which are embedded in music and speech, may have shaped the organization of our brains.... Read More...
Infants with autism risk may be less likely to distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar speech patterns
Children at higher risk of ASD are less able to distinguish between differences in speech patterns. The findings suggest the biological mechanism of language development is less acquisitive in high-risk infants who are diagnosed with autism during toddlerhood.... Read More...
AI can detect depression in a child’s speech
An auditory-based machine learning algorithm was able to identify children diagnosed with depression and anxiety with 80% accuracy after analyzing recordings of their speech. The algorithm identified eight audio features that signify a higher risk of depression. Of these, a lower pitch of voice, repeatable speech inflections and a higher pitch response to surprise stimuli, were more indicative of depression. Researchers hope to develop a smartphone app that records and analyzes speech immediately, helping to better detect children at risk of internalizing disorders.... Read More...