Prof. TAO Ran, Department of Language Science and Technology

Neural Mechanisms of Cantonese Lexical Tone: From Feature Representation to Cognitive Flexibility. UBSN Neuroscience Conference and Workshops 2026. University Research Facility in Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, 27 & 28 June 2026.

Abstract
In tonal languages like Cantonese, listeners must map highly variable pitch patterns into stable lexical tone categories for word recognition. This talk explores the neural mechanisms supporting this auditory-cognitive flexibility. Drawing on recent fMRI evidence, we characterize the bilateral cortical networks responsible for encoding suprasegmental phonetic features. Behavioral and EEG investigations further reveal that lexical tone normalization is a speech-specific process. Musical contexts, unlike speech, do not facilitate adaptation. Yet long-term musical training enhances broader auditory flexibility when handling talker variability, evidenced by earlier cortical responses. Together, these findings dissociate domain-specific processing from general neuroplasticity, offering insights into cognitive resilience relevant to mental health and cognitive neuroscience.