Language-Related Brain Potential Maps for Semantic Perception of Cluster Consonants in Consonant-Vowel Syllables

Mismatch Negativity (MMN) was used to investigate the processing of cluster and noncluster initial consonants in consonant-vowel syllables in the human brain. The MMN was elicited by either syllable with cluster or noncluster initial consonant, phonetic contrasts being identical in both syllables. Compared to the noncluster consonant, the cluster consonant elicited a more prominent MMN. The strong MMN peaks at ~128 msec after change onset in cluster-to-noncluster initial consonants changes and at ~212 msec in noncluster-to-cluster initial consonants changes. The significantly different neuronal populations were thus active between 128-212 msec when syllables with cluster and noncluster initial consonants were present. Microstate segmentation analyses showed that the phonological perception for cluster consonant was at 212 msec whereas 128 msec for non-cluster consonant. After approximately 220 msec, semantic perception started in order to perceive the meaning of the words.