Behavioral and electrophysiological correlates of temporal and spectral processing in absolute pitch and Mesial Temporal Sclerosis

• Grant number: 19/13817-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Effective date (Start): January 01, 2020
• Effective date (End): February 28, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Speech Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Eliane Schochat
• Grantee: Carlos Alberto Leite Filho
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Temporal and spectral sound processing are essential for efficient communication. Behavioral and electrophysiological methods allow the study of perceptual and neurobiological substrates of these processes. Given this background, musicians with absolute pitch are an unique model for studying temporal and spectral processing. On the other hand, some of these methods have not yet been validated and do not have established sensibility and specificity values. Therefore, investigation of the performance of neurological patients in these instruments is necessary. Objective: to investigate the behavioral and electrophysiological correlates of temporal and spectral processing in absolute pitch and Mesial Temporal Sclerosis and sensibility and specificity values for tests assessing these processes. Method: this is a prospective observational analytical cross-sectional study in which 64 young adults will be organized in four groups of 16 individuals: musicians with absolute pitch, musicians without absolute pitch, non-musicians, and individuals with Temporal Mesial Sclerosis. The following tests will be performed: auditory temporal backward masking, filtered speech, and speech-evoked frequency-following response. The four groups will be compared regarding parameters of these procedures. Sensibility and specificity values for these parameters and correlations between these parameters and performance on the absolute pitch test will be calculated. (AU)