23, 24 for the neural tracking of contextual semantic information). Slow cortical dynamics temporally align with (or ‘track') auditory input signals to prioritize the neural representation of behaviourally relevant sensory information 19, 20, 21, 22 (see also refs. In addition, a prominent line of research focuses on the role of low-frequency (1–8 Hz) neural activity in auditory and, broadly speaking, perisylvian cortex in the selective representation of speech input ('neural speech tracking'). This suggests that asymmetric alpha modulation could act as a filter mechanism by modulating sensory gain already in the early processing stages. Importantly, across modalities, it was shown that spatial-attention tasks are neurally supported by hemispheric lateralization of alpha power over occipital, parietal but also the respective sensory cortices 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. Neural attentional filters can be instantiated by different mechanistic principles and recent studies have predominantly focused on two potential but nonexclusive neural filter strategies originating from distinct research traditions:įrom the visual domain stems an influential line of research that supports the role of alpha-band (~8–12 Hz) oscillatory activity in the implementation of controlled, top-down suppression of behaviourally irrelevant information 5, 6, 7, 8. Here, the concept of neural attentional ‘filters’ serves as an important and pervasive algorithmic metaphor of how auditory attention is implemented at the neural level 2, 3, 4. Successful speech comprehension thus relies on the differentiation of relevant and irrelevant inputs. Real-life listening is characterized by the concurrence of sound sources that compete for our attention 1. Our results highlight the translational potential of neural speech tracking as an individualized neural marker of adaptive listening behaviour. Stronger neural speech tracking but not alpha lateralization boosts trial-to-trial behavioural performance. Second, neural filter states vary independently of one another, demonstrating complementary neurobiological solutions of spatial selective attention. First, we observe preserved attentional–cue-driven modulation of both neural filters across chronological age and hearing levels. Using electroencephalography and a dual-talker task in a representative sample of listeners (N = 155 age=39–80 years), we here demonstrate an often-missed link from single-trial behavioural outcomes back to trial-by-trial changes in neural attentional filtering. However, the functional interplay of the two neural filter strategies and their potency to index listening success in an ageing population remains unclear. Research into their neurobiological implementation has focused on two potential auditory filter strategies: the lateralization of alpha power and selective neural speech tracking. Successful listening crucially depends on intact attentional filters that separate relevant from irrelevant information.
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