Imagine your brain is like a music festival, with different stages playing different genres of music. In this enchanting concert, the neural oscillations serve as the background beats that help you process the intricate melodies of speech and music. This mini review gives clinicians and scientists an inside look at the role of these oscillations in speech and music perception. It discusses how these rhythmic brain waves are measured and their significance in various aspects of perception such as aging, hearing loss, and disorders affecting speech and language. Delving into the nitty-gritty, it examines the different frequency bands associated with speech and music processing, explores quantifying methods, and briefly touches upon controversial theories surrounding oscillatory alignment. The review also highlights exciting discoveries about neural oscillations in speech and music perception, shedding light on disordered perception in clinical populations. Looking ahead, it offers a glimpse into the future of oscillatory research, including promising methodologies and potential areas for exploration. While it doesn’t cover every single study on cortical tracking of speech and music, it provides a solid foundation for evaluating and designing research studies on the role of oscillations in typical and clinical populations. Get ready to dive into the fascinating world of brain rhythms!
This mini review is aimed at a clinician-scientist seeking to understand the role of oscillations in neural processing and their functional relevance in speech and music perception. We present an overview of neural oscillations, methods used to study them, and their functional relevance with respect to music processing, aging, hearing loss, and disorders affecting speech and language. We first review the oscillatory frequency bands and their associations with speech and music processing. Next we describe commonly used metrics for quantifying neural oscillations, briefly touching upon the still-debated mechanisms underpinning oscillatory alignment. Following this, we highlight key findings from research on neural oscillations in speech and music perception, as well as contributions of this work to our understanding of disordered perception in clinical populations. Finally, we conclude with a look toward the future of oscillatory research in speech and music perception, including promising methods and potential avenues for future work. We note that the intention of this mini review is not to systematically review all literature on cortical tracking of speech and music. Rather, we seek to provide the clinician-scientist with foundational information that can be used to evaluate and design research studies targeting the functional role of oscillations in speech and music processing in typical and clinical populations.
Dr. David Lowemann, M.Sc, Ph.D., is a co-founder of the Institute for the Future of Human Potential, where he leads the charge in pioneering Self-Enhancement Science for the Success of Society. With a keen interest in exploring the untapped potential of the human mind, Dr. Lowemann has dedicated his career to pushing the boundaries of human capabilities and understanding.
Armed with a Master of Science degree and a Ph.D. in his field, Dr. Lowemann has consistently been at the forefront of research and innovation, delving into ways to optimize human performance, cognition, and overall well-being. His work at the Institute revolves around a profound commitment to harnessing cutting-edge science and technology to help individuals lead more fulfilling and intelligent lives.
Dr. Lowemann’s influence extends to the educational platform BetterSmarter.me, where he shares his insights, findings, and personal development strategies with a broader audience. His ongoing mission is shaping the way we perceive and leverage the vast capacities of the human mind, offering invaluable contributions to society’s overall success and collective well-being.