Individual differences in implicit attention to phonetic detail in speech perception

We present a study on the interactions between implicit attention to acoustic-phonetic detail in speech and individual differences (IDs). Attention to phonetic detail was assessed with acoustically manipulated speech stimuli within a computer game, an alternative to regular highly-controlled categorization tests. Twenty-two native German speakers (11f) completed the game and further tests including individual attention test measures (e.g. Simon Test), the BFI-10 (short version of the Big Five Inventory), and a Self-monitoring Test (need for social approval). With this study, we contribute to the understanding of the processes underlying human speech perception and the impact of cognitive and personality features on the attention to phonetic detail. Our results show that the general (non-verbal) attention capacity (mental flexibility, inhibition), interacts with implicit attention to phonetic detail. Furthermore, IDs in personality, such as sensitivity to social cues or conscientiousness significantly add to the effects. Understanding these interactions, especially arising in an intuitive and non-explicit study design, is an important step on the way towards explaining not only the influence of IDs on attention to phonetic detail, but also the dynamics of speech interaction (e.g. phonetic convergence).