Change-related auditory P50: A MEG study

- Environmental change-detecting system is very important for survival.
- We demonstrated the presence of an auditory change-related P50m response.
- The amplitude and latency depended on the magnitude of the sound change.
- It reflects endogenous brain activity earlier than change-related N1m.

Changes in continuous sounds elicit a preattentive component that peaks at around 100 ms (Change-N1m) on electroencephalograms or magnetoencephalograms (MEG). Change-N1m is thought to reflect brain activity relating to the automatic detection of changes, which facilitate processes for the execution of appropriate behavior in response to new environmental events. The aim of the present MEG study was to elucidate whether a component relating to auditory changes existed earlier than N1m. Change-related cortical responses were evoked by abrupt sound movement in a train of clicks at 100 Hz. Sound movement was created by inserting an interaural time delay (ITD) of 0.15, 0.25, 0.35, and 0.45 ms into the right ear. Ten out of 12 participants exhibited clear change-related cortical responses earlier than Change-N1m at around 60 ms (Change-P50m). The results of source analysis showed that Change-P50m originated from the superior temporal gyrus of both hemispheres and that its location did not differ significantly from dipoles for the response to the sound onset. The magnitude of Change-P50m increased and the peak latency shortened with an increase in the ITD, similar to those of Change-N1m. These results suggest that change-related cortical activity is present as early as its onset latency at around 50 ms.