Menstrual cycle-dependent plasticity of auditory-vocal integration in vocal pitch production

Abstract

Considerable evidence suggests that auditory function can be influenced by gonadal steroids (estradiol and progesterone), but whether there is a sex hormonal modulation of auditory-vocal integration in vocal production remains unknown. The present event-related potential (ERP) study sought to examine the behavioral and neurophysiological processing of auditory feedback during self-produced vocalization across the menstrual cycle. Eleven young Mandarin-native female speakers with regular menstrual cycle were tested during the menstrual, follicular, and luteal phases. Subjects heard their voice pitch-shifted 50 or 200 cents while producing a vowel sound /u/. Vocal compensations and ERPs in response to pitch perturbations as well as estradiol and progesterone concentrations were measured at three different phases. The behavioral findings showed significantly larger magnitude of vocal compensation at the menstrual phase in comparison to follicular or luteal phase. As to the neurophysiological findings, P2 amplitude in the luteal phase was significantly smaller compared to that in the menstrual and follicular phase. These results demonstrate the menstrual cycle-related effect on the behavioral and neurophysiological processing of auditory feedback in vocal pitch production, suggesting that the integration between auditory and vocal motor system can be modulated by the estradiol and progesterone levels across the menstrual cycle.