About this Research Topic
To focus on the most important information in a given situation, our Auditory Cognitive System selectively attends to dialogue or sounds perceived as vital for further processing. This processing is affected by the categorization of the sound, hearing impairment, the motivation of the listener in attending to the sound, as well as effort and listener fatigue. Recent research investigating our attentional processing of speech has found further important factors affecting our selective attention including the quality of attended speech, semantic predictability, grammatical complexity and the number of competing sources of speech (among others). Given the number of factors affecting our selective attention in a given situation, the neural and cognitive processes at play are not well understood.
Further investigation into the relationship among factors affecting selective attention and brain activity and brain regions activated by various and competing audio cues/sources will enhance our understanding of selective attention under the umbrella of Cognitive Hearing Science. In turn, this can aid in the development of treatments for the hearing impaired. This Research Topic, therefore, aims to gather studies investigating the effects of selective and divided attention on cortical brain regions, fluctuations in and factors (cognitive and perceptual) affecting the ability to attend to competing sounds (speech or non-speech), as well as factors affecting the quality of attended speech.
We welcome contributions that address, but are not limited to, the following sub-Topics:
- Impact of competing speakers on our attentional processing of speech
- Relationship between audio & visual distractions on selective attention
- Individual cognitive differences (and related factors) affecting selective attention
- Novel Methods to study the relationship between selective attention and neural and cognitive processsing
- Studies that investigate brain regions activated by various and competing audio cues/sources
- Studies on divided attention are also welcome.
- Individual cognitive differences (e.g., working memory capacity) affecting selective attention
- Hearing loss and attention
- Studies of aging on attention and brain function, as well as the potential connection to dementia are welcome
Further investigation into the relationship among factors affecting selective attention and brain activity and brain regions activated by various and competing audio cues/sources will enhance our understanding of selective attention under the umbrella of Cognitive Hearing Science. In turn, this can aid in the development of treatments for the hearing impaired. This Research Topic, therefore, aims to gather studies investigating the effects of selective and divided attention on cortical brain regions, fluctuations in and factors (cognitive and perceptual) affecting the ability to attend to competing sounds (speech or non-speech), as well as factors affecting the quality of attended speech.
We welcome contributions that address, but are not limited to, the following sub-Topics:
- Impact of competing speakers on our attentional processing of speech
- Relationship between audio & visual distractions on selective attention
- Individual cognitive differences (and related factors) affecting selective attention
- Novel Methods to study the relationship between selective attention and neural and cognitive processsing
- Studies that investigate brain regions activated by various and competing audio cues/sources
- Studies on divided attention are also welcome.
- Individual cognitive differences (e.g., working memory capacity) affecting selective attention
- Hearing loss and attention
- Studies of aging on attention and brain function, as well as the potential connection to dementia are welcome
Keywords: Attention, Working Memory, Brain Activity, Measurement Methods, Hearing Impairment, Dementia
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
