Cortical signatures of auditory threat-related bias show exposure-based adaptation across the human lifespan

Cortical signatures of auditory threat-related bias show exposure-based adaptation across the human lifespan | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Cortical signatures of auditory threat-related bias show exposure-based adaptation across the human lifespan Karolina Ignatiadis, Diane Baier, Roberto Barumerli, István Sziller, and 2 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3205939/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 08 Jun, 2024 Read the published version in Communications Psychology → Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Adaptive threat-related biases in favor of approaching, or looming, sounds have been found across ages and species, thereby implicating the potential of their evolutionary origin and universal basis. The human auditory system is well-developed at birth, yet spatial hearing abilities further develop with age. To disentangle the speculated inborn, evolutionary component of the auditory looming bias from its learned counterpart, we collected high-density electroencephalographic data across human adults and newborns. As distance-motion cues we manipulated either the sound's intensity or spectral shape, which is pinna-induced and thus prenatally inaccessible. Through cortical source localisation we demonstrate the emergence of the bias in both age groups at the level of the primary auditory cortex. Yet contrary to the adults, in newborns it was elicited only through manipulations of intensity and not spectral cues. We conclude that the looming bias comprises innate components while flexibly incorporating the spatial cues acquired through lifelong exposure. Biological sciences/Neuroscience/Auditory system/Cortex Biological sciences/Neuroscience/Learning and memory/Fear conditioning Biological sciences/Psychology/Human behaviour looming bias threat detection spatial cognition electroencephalography perceptual decision making Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 08 Jun, 2024 Read the published version in Communications Psychology → Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About In Review Editorial Policies Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-3205939","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":222055142,"identity":"fb05078f-aaba-41f5-9725-7625551dc886","order_by":0,"name":"Karolina Ignatiadis","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Austrian Academy of Sciences","correspondingAuthor":false,"submittingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Karolina","middleName":"","lastName":"Ignatiadis","suffix":""},{"id":222055143,"identity":"9211b3bd-9e9a-4f7e-bab2-dc989662c17b","order_by":1,"name":"Diane Baier","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Austrian Academy of 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