Perceptual learning in speech: Stability over time

TLDR

Phoneme representations flexibly adapt to idiosyncratic articulation in individual talkers. The study examines whether these phoneme adjustments remain stable over time and when listeners are exposed to other talkers. Listeners learned to interpret an ambiguous sound as [f] or [s], and the resulting perceptual adjustments remained robust after 12 h, even with exposure to other talkers or sleep consolidation.

Abstract

Perceptual representations of phonemes are flexible and adapt rapidly to accommodate idiosyncratic articulation in the speech of a particular talker. This letter addresses whether such adjustments remain stable over time and under exposure to other talkers. During exposure to a story, listeners learned to interpret an ambiguous sound as [f] or [s]. Perceptual adjustments measured after 12 h were as robust as those measured immediately after learning. Equivalent effects were found when listeners heard speech from other talkers in the 12 h interval, and when they had the opportunity to consolidate learning during sleep.