Temporal trajectories of mismatch negativity reveal dynamics of auditory perceptual learning

Temporal trajectories of mismatch negativity reveal dynamics of auditory perceptual learning | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL European Journal of Neuroscience This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 31 May 2025 V1 Latest version Share on Temporal trajectories of mismatch negativity reveal dynamics of auditory perceptual learning Authors : Matthew Godfrey 0009-0001-2693-9054 [email protected] , Mattsen Yeark 0000-0001-8473-3786 , Laura Wall , and Juanita Todd 0000-0002-0443-600X Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.174868759.97710358/v1 Published European Journal of Neuroscience Version of record Peer review timeline 446 views 225 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Theories of perceptual learning, such as predictive processing, describe learning as a dynamic and continuous process of updating hierarchical internal models in response to environmental regularities. However, most studies reduce this process to static condition-based averages, making them insensitive to how prediction error signals unfold over time. The current study addressed this gap by investigating the temporal trajectories of precision-weighted prediction errors – indexed by mismatch negativity (MMN) – across stable and volatile auditory oddball sequences. EEG was recorded for 45 young adults as they passively listened to Traditional (stable) and Alternating (volatile) sequences, presented in counterbalanced order. Consistent with theoretical predictions, MMN amplitude declined over time in the stable environments and increased across volatile contexts following changes in environmental regularity, reflecting higher-order model refinement and ongoing lower-order model building, respectively. Crucially, MMN trajectories were modulated by prior experience. MMN was attenuated in the stable sequence when preceded by volatility, suggesting that elevated beliefs about environmental uncertainty may constrain the precision of subsequent perceptual inferences. In contrast, prior exposure to stability had no impact on learning in volatile environments, indicating an asymmetry in how prior context shapes perceptual learning. These findings demonstrate the theoretical and methodological value of assessing MMN trajectories, revealing dynamic learning processes often masked by conventional averaging. This approach offers a promising framework for investigating altered learning mechanisms in clinical populations. Together, our results underscore the importance of temporal resolution, prior experience, and environmental structure in understanding the dynamic nature of perceptual inference. Supplementary Material File (ejntrajectorymmngodfrey2025.docx) Download 1.39 MB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 31 May 2025 Peer review timeline Published European Journal of Neuroscience Version of Record 7 Nov 2025 Published Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Collection European Journal of Neuroscience Keywords auditory erp environmental volatility mismatch negativity (mmn) perceptual learning predictive processing Authors Affiliations Matthew Godfrey 0009-0001-2693-9054 [email protected] The University of Newcastle College of Engineering Science and Environment View all articles by this author Mattsen Yeark 0000-0001-8473-3786 The University of Newcastle College of Engineering Science and Environment View all articles by this author Laura Wall The University of Newcastle College of Engineering Science and Environment View all articles by this author Juanita Todd 0000-0002-0443-600X The University of Newcastle View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 446 views 225 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Matthew Godfrey, Mattsen Yeark, Laura Wall, et al. Temporal trajectories of mismatch negativity reveal dynamics of auditory perceptual learning. Authorea . 31 May 2025. 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