Auditory mismatch negativity for speech sound contrasts is modulated by language context.

Auditory mismatch negativity is known to reflect language experience. This study wants to clarify whether this effect is dependent on language context. We compared German subjects' magnetic mismatch negativity in response to a non-native speech contrast presented with and without the context of a native contrast. The presence of the native contrast abolished the response to the nonnative sound at the left hemisphere and reduced the right-sided response. A significant context effect set in 170 ms after stimulus onset. As a control, the native contrast was increased by the context. This suggests that the auditory system adapts to the language context and modulates speech processing at early stages of information processing. This may facilitate elevated concentration on acoustic details that are linguistically relevant.