# Temporal Dynamics of Auditory Evoked Neural Oscillations Under a Paired-Pulse Suppression Paradigm

## TL;DR

This study explores how the brain detects sudden changes in sound by analyzing neural oscillations and evoked potentials in healthy individuals.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel neurophysiological approach to examine auditory change detection using low gamma oscillations and paired-pulse paradigms.

## Key findings

- An abrupt sound pressure increase decreased inter-trial phase coherence at 40 Hz but increased it at other frequencies.
- Unlike change-related potentials, the ITPC responses did not differ between two changes in the paired-pulse paradigm.
- Low gamma oscillations showed transient responses to sound changes without paired-pulse suppression.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: Deficits in auditory change detection are well-known in psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. An abrupt change in sound feature during periodic sounds elicits both evoked potentials and a transient change in neural oscillations. Both of these cerebral responses are thought to reflect the automatic change detection. However, the similarities and dissimilarities between these cerebral responses are unclear. To clarify them, we compared the temporal dynamics of evoked potentials and low gamma oscillations under a paired-pulse paradigm. Methods: Healthy adults (n = 21) participated. The stimulus was a 2 s sound consisting of a train of 25 ms pure tones. The sound pressure was increased by 15 dB twice within a 600 ms interval. Electroencephalographic signals were recorded from Fz and Cz electrodes referenced to linked mastoids. The peak (N100)-to-peak (P200) amplitude and the inter-trial phase coherence (ITPC) of low gamma oscillations were analyzed. Results: Auditory steady-state responses were evoked around 40 Hz. An abrupt change in sound pressure transiently decreased the ITPC of the oscillations at 40 Hz, whereas it increased the ITPC at the remaining frequencies. Unlike the change-related potentials, the degree of ITPC responses did not differ between the two changes. Conclusions: The synchrony of low gamma oscillations transiently responded to an abrupt increase in sound pressure but did not show paired-pulse suppression. This novel neurophysiological approach enables a focus on the neural change detection from multiple angles, which could be useful for investigations of psychiatric disorders.