ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL CORRELATES OF AUDITORY DEVELOPMENT AT ADOLESCENCE: ROLE OF PUBERTY AND COGNITION

Adolescence is a period of heightened neural plasticity underlying the improvement of cognitive and perceptual skills required to succeed in complex social environments. Among these, the ability to perceive speech in the presence of noise is crucial in teenagers’ daily-life. The neurobiological mechanisms underlying speech perception in noise (SIN) protracted development remain poorly understood, but likely stem from changes at the endocrine and neural levels. This study investigates the relationship among SIN and pubertal, electrophysiological and cognitive changes at adolescence.
Data collection is ongoing. So far, we have included n = 100 typically developing participants aged 9 to 18 years. Participants provide information about their pubertal stages, as well as salivary samples. Here, we will focus on measures of cortical tracking of speech (CTS) during active listening to speech in 3 conditions: quiet, energetic masking (i.e., peripheral interference) and informational masking (i.e., central, cognitive interference).
Cross-sectional findings suggest developmental changes in both SIN and in its electrophysiological correlates in the informational masking condition. Moreover, better SIN performance correlates to higher CTS, suggesting a link between behavioural and neural measures. Finally, we will investigate the role of puberty and cognition in such neurobehavioral developmental trajectories.
Results interpretation focusses on the potential role of puberty in triggering a second sensitive period for the maturation of complex auditory perception and cognition. Furthermore, such study holds potential for practical implications: the emphasis on SIN addresses a real-world challenge with potential effects on academic performance and social interactions during a potential sensitive period.