The effect of top-down and bottom-up stimulation on auditory brainstem response to complex sounds

Abstract

Children with Speech Sound Disorders have difficulties to processing speech sounds when they are presented fast and in sequence. The auditory perception of that complex sounds depends on the integrity of the coding process analyzed by the Auditory Nervous System. The Auditory Brainstem Response to Complex Sound (cABR) investigates the neural representation of the sounds and generates information about how the sound structure of the spoken syllable is encoded by the auditory system. Some authors say that language disorders are related to difficulties to processing complex sounds. Nevertheless, other authors question the theories that associate language disorders to auditory sensory changes, because it is believed they are due to higher process, in other words, memory and attention are also involved (top down process). Once auditory stimulation is a manner to investigate the real influence of top-down and bottom-up aspects in this population, this research aims to investigate the influences of top-down and bottom-up stimulation in cABR results. It is expected the results can bring relevant information about the interference of auditory, sensory and cognitive processes in the language skills and to verify their influence on cABR results. (AU)