Sarah Cebulski, Kathy Van Benthem, Matthew Darling, Masako Hirotani. ERP evidence for automatic processing and integration of language specific suprasegmental cues, to be presented as a poster at Queen’s University Kingston, ON, June 8.
Abstract: This ERP study investigated neurological activity associated with suprasegmental cues (intensity, pitch) to determine how they are processed differently from segments (“ba”, “ga”) by Canadian English speakers. Although all cues were detected equally well as evidenced by a series of behavioural tests, a left-hemispheric negativity was earliest (180 ms poststimulus) for intensity cues, indicating fastest discrimination of English relevant suprasegmental cues. Additionally, a P300 was observed for intensity cues compared with other cues including pitch. This study provides clear evidence that language relevant suprasegmental cues are processed faster than segmental cues and are better integrated than less relevant suprasegmental cues.