Exploring Neural Dynamics in Self-Voice Processing and Perception: Implications for Hallucination Proneness

Summary

Auditory verbal hallucinations occur along a continuum from the general population to patients with psychosis, yet how sensory feedback processing and attention control interact along this continuum is unclear. By manipulating self-voice quality (from neutral to angry) and measuring brain activity with electroencephalography, the study found that hallucination proneness (HP) modulated the N100 and P200 suppression effects regardless of voice quality. Individuals with high HP showed an increased N100 response to self-generated voices and an increased P200 response to externally-generated voices, suggesting heightened error awareness and attention allocation during self-voice production due to altered sensory feedback processing and attentional control. These findings indicate that altered sensory feedback processing in self-voice production is a fundamental characteristic of the HP continuum, independent of clinical status.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract Altered sensory feedback processing and attention control are assumed to contribute to auditory verbal hallucinations, which are experienced by the general population and patients with psychosis, implying a continuum of hallucination proneness (HP). However, the interaction of altered sensory feedback processing and attention control along this HP continuum remains unclear. Manipulating the level of certainty of sensory feedback by changing self-voice quality (100% neutral, 60-40% neutral-angry, 50-50% neutral-angry, 40-60% neutral-angry, 100% angry) in individuals varying in HP, we tested this interaction using electroencephalography while participants self-generated or passively listened to their voices. Regardless of voice quality, HP modulated the N100 and P200 suppression effects. High HP individuals showed an increased N100 response to the self-generated voices and an increased P200 response for externally-generated voices. This may indicate increased error awareness and attention allocation in high HP individuals for self-voice generation stemming from altered sensory feedback processing, and/or attentional control. The current findings suggest that alterations of the sensory feedback processing in self-voice production are a fundamental characteristic of the continuum of HP, regardless of the clinical status of voice hearers. Highlights Altered N100 voice suppression in high HP, regardless of the clinical status. High HP associated with altered sensory feedback processing and attentional control. Current findings support a ‘neurophysiological’ continuum of HP.