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Event-Related Potentials in Conditions of Auditory Spatial Masking in Humans

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Abstract

Current study is focused on human event-related potentials (ERPs) elicited in the auditory spatial masking paradigm. ERPs of the test subjects (n = 18) were recorded in the passive conditions using uncorrelated low-frequency noise signals. Spatial positions of the stimuli were determined by interaural level differences (ILDs). Test signal and masker were colocated or separated by 90 or 180 deg of azimuth and were presented simultaneously. The onset of a test signal was delayed from masker onset in order to separate the onset responses. We estimated the ERPs dependence on angular distance between signal and masker. When the test signal was presented against the background of a masker, the N1 and P2 components decreased in magnitude and increased in latency, as compared to presentation in silence. Spatial release from masking resulted in ERP magnitude increase and latency decrease as the angular distance between test signal and masker changed from 0 to 90 deg. A further spatial separation of the lateralized signal and masker did not result in further release from masking. ERPs magnitude was a more reliable indicator of the angular separation of signals than its latency. These findings suggest that binaural unmasking mechanisms operate at the preconscious stage of complex auditory scene analysis.

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Funding

This study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (project no. 22-25-00033).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia

    L. B. Shestopalova, E. A. Petropavlovskaia, D. A. Salikova, V. V. Semenova & N. I. Nikitin

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  1. L. B. Shestopalova
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  2. E. A. Petropavlovskaia
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  3. D. A. Salikova
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  4. V. V. Semenova
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  5. N. I. Nikitin
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Correspondence to L. B. Shestopalova.

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Conflict of interest. The authors declare the absence of obvious and potential conflicts of interest related to the publication of this article.

Statement of compliance with standards of research involving humans as subjects. All studies were carried out in accordance with the principles of biomedical ethics formulated in the Declaration of Helsinki of 1964 and its subsequent updates and approved by the local bioethical committee of St. Petersburg State University (St. Petersburg). Each participant provided a voluntary written signed informed consent after explaining the potential risks and benefits, as well as the nature of the upcoming study.

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Translated by M. Batrukova

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Shestopalova, L.B., Petropavlovskaia, E.A., Salikova, D.A. et al. Event-Related Potentials in Conditions of Auditory Spatial Masking in Humans. Hum Physiol 48, 633–643 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0362119722700098

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0362119722700098

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