Listening in Action: Attention, Emotions and Cognition in the Auditory System

Auditory perception relies not only on a faithful transduction of acoustic vibrations into neural signals, but also on the transformation of auditory representations into meaningful auditory objects. These transformations are the product of the integration of ascending auditory information with other non-acoustical representations, such as those formed by previous experience or coming from motor centers and other sensory modalities. This continuous bottom-up and top-down processing allows the brain to translate acoustic information into perception and action. The substrate for such transformation is given by the massive interconnection of the auditory system with areas of the brain related to executive, emotional and association cognitive functions. However, to date, our knowledge of how auditory perception is actively shaped by cognition, behavior, emotions and movement is still incomplete.

The aim of this Research Topic is to incorporate original research exploring the role of cognition in shaping auditory perception. For this, we welcome studies of the neural connectivity of the auditory system with brain areas related to cognition, motor planning and emotion, as well as other neuromodulatory systems. We also welcome behavioral and neurophysiological studies in humans and animals providing evidence of the top-down neuromodulatory effects of the activity of these non-auditory areas on auditory processing. Of particular interest is to bring research regarding how auditory encoding is shaped by internal signals such as temporal predictive and motor-related signals in behaving animals and how subjects utilize the acoustic information to guide decisions and actions under diverse naturalistic and perceptual contexts.

While we will welcome contributions from any research field enhancing our knowledge of top-down mechanisms on auditory perception, we are particularly interested in bringing together research on how auditory encoding is both exploited and modulated by downstream sensory, motor and other high-level neural circuits that support perception and production of complex behavioral outcomes. This Research Topic focuses on how we sense, perceive and use acoustic information in complex and naturalistic conditions will be of interest for a wide audience and colleagues in sensory, system and cognitive neuroscience.