The effect of imagination on stimulation: the functional specificity of efference copies in speech processing
Abstract
The computational role of efference copies is widely appreciated in action and perception research, but their properties for speech processing remain murky. We tested the functional specificity of auditory efference copies using magnetoencephalography recordings in an unconventional pairing: We used a classical cognitive manipulation (mental imagery--to elicit internal simulation and estimation) with a well-established experimental paradigm (one shot repetition--to assess neuronal specificity). Participants performed tasks that differentially implicated internal prediction of sensory consequences (overt speaking, imagined speaking, and imagined hearing) and their modulatory effects on the perception of an auditory (syllable) probe were assessed. Remarkably, the neural responses to overt syllable probes vary systematically, both in terms of directionality (suppression, enhancement) and temporal dynamics (early, late), as a function of the preceding covert mental imagery adaptor. We show, in the context of a dual-pathway model, that internal simulation shapes perception in a context-dependent manner.
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The existence of an IFM to inner speech may be inferred based on how the production of inner speech suppresses the brain's electrophysiological response to overt speech.
“However, the existence of an IFM may be inferred based on how the production of inner speech suppresses the brain’s electrophysiological response to overt speech (Tian and Poeppel, 2010; Tian and Poeppel, 2015; Tian and Poeppel, 2013; Tian and Poeppel, 2012).”
From Neurophysiological evidence of efference copies to inner speech (2017) · cites this paper as Tian and Poeppel, 2013
Tian and Poeppel (2013) observed a larger M200 component in their match vs. mismatch comparison, consistent with the enhanced P2 observed in the Match vs. Mismatch comparison in the present study.
“It is also worth noting that Tian and Poeppel (Tian and Poeppel, 2013) observed a larger M200 component in their match vs. mismatch comparison, consistent with the enhanced P2 observed in the Match vs. Mismatch comparison in the present study.”
From Neurophysiological evidence of efference copies to inner speech (2017) · cites this paper as Tian and Poeppel, 2013
In the current protocol, the trigger line refreshed every 8.3 ms, which presumably enabled participants to time the onset of their inner phoneme more accurately than countdown sequences, mental rehearsal, or open temporal windows used in previous studies.
“In the current protocol, the position of the trigger line refreshed every 8.3 ms, which presumably enabled participants to time the onset of their inner phoneme far more accurately than would be possible with a countdown sequence, mental rehearsal or open temporal window, such as have been used in previous studies (Tian and Poeppel, 2013; Ford et al., 2001b; Ylinen et al., 2015).”
From Neurophysiological evidence of efference copies to inner speech (2017) · cites this paper as Tian and Poeppel, 2013
Tian and Poeppel (2013) found no difference in the amplitude of the M100 between match and mismatch conditions.
“The authors found no difference in the amplitude of the M100 between the match and mismatch conditions, inconsistent with the results of the present study.”
From Neurophysiological evidence of efference copies to inner speech (2017) · cites this paper as Tian and Poeppel, 2013
Imagery for speaking and hearing appeared to have different repetition priming effects on auditory cortical responses: the former increasing activity, and the latter inhibiting it.
“In a subsequent experiment, imagery for speaking and hearing appeared to have different repetition priming effects on auditory cortical responses: the former increasing activity, and the latter inhibiting it (Tian & Poeppel, 2013).”
From Inner Speech: Development, Cognitive Functions, Phenomenology, and Neurobiology (2015) · cites this paper as Tian & Poeppel, 2013
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- Authors
- Tian, X., & Poeppel, D.
- Affiliations
- New York University (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience
- Publisher
- MIT Press
- Published
- 2013-07-01
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 1020-1036
- ISSN
- 0898-929X (ISSN-L)
- 1530-8898
- OpenAlex
- W1981264996
- Cited by
- 172
- References
- 17
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 64 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 5.67
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (2R01DC-05660, R01DC005660)
- Army Research Office
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neurobiology of Language and Bilingualism
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Action Observation and Synchronization
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Music Perception
- Keywords
- efference copy, mental imagery, speech perception, covert speech, dual-pathway model, context-dependent perception, syllable perception, sensorimotor simulation
- MeSH terms
- Acoustic Stimulation, Adaptation, Physiological, Adult, Analysis of Variance, Auditory Perception, Brain Mapping, Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Female, Humans, Imagination, Functional Laterality, Male, Speech, Magnetoencephalography, Imagery, Psychotherapy, Young Adult
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