Understanding spoken language requires analysis of the rapidly unfolding speech signal at multiple levels: acoustic, phonological, and semantic. However, there is not yet a comprehensive picture of how these levels relate. We recorded electroencephalography (EEG) while listeners (N = 31) heard sentences in which we manipulated acoustic ambiguity (e.g., a bees/peas continuum) and sentential expectations (e.g., Honey is made by bees). EEG was analyzed with a mixed effects model over time to quantify how language processing cascades proceed on a millisecond-by-millisecond basis. Our results indicate: (1) perceptual processing and memory for fine-grained acoustics is preserved in brain activity for up to 900 msec; (2) contextual analysis begins early and is graded with respect to the acoustic signal; and (3) top-down predictions influence perceptual processing in some cases, however, these predictions are available simultaneously with the veridical signal. These mechanistic insights provide a basis for a better understanding of the cortical language network.

中文翻译：

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语言理解过程中的动态脑电图分析揭示了知觉处理和句子期望之间的交互级联

理解口语需要在多个层面分析快速展开的语音信号：声学、语音和语义。但是，目前还没有全面了解这些级别之间的关系。我们记录了脑电图 (EEG)，而听众 (N = 31) 听到了我们操纵声学歧义（例如，蜜蜂/豌豆连续体）和句子期望（例如，蜂蜜由蜜蜂制成）的句子。随着时间的推移，使用混合效应模型对 EEG 进行分析，以量化语言处理级联如何以毫秒为单位进行。我们的结果表明：（1）细粒度声学的感知处理和记忆在大脑活动中保留长达 900 毫秒；(2) 上下文分析早期开始，并根据声学信号进行分级；(3) 自上而下的预测在某些情况下会影响感知处理，但是，这些预测与真实信号同时可用。这些机械见解为更好地理解皮层语言网络提供了基础。