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EEG shows brain can simultaneous encode two speech streams

journals.plos.org

21–30 of 193 posts

Re: EEG shows brain can simultaneous encode two speech streams

#22
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Perhaps a dumb question but are they center panned (or mono, i.e. talking over each other) or is it split left ear/right ear when they come through the headset?

Airplane radios are generally broadcasting and receiving mono. There are modern headsets that can also play stereo, but only for onboard music or intercom purposes, if the plane supports it. But in planes with 2 radios you can usually configure their I/O individually. So you can listen (and also talk, although that makes sense less often) on two frequencies at the same time.

Yes of course, the transmitted audio would be mono. I meant one radio in one ear and another radio in the other ear, or if you mix them and they both play in both ears. But it sounds like they're mixed (talking over each other in a single audio stream).

Re: EEG shows brain can simultaneous encode two speech streams

#24
Many mindfulness practices seem to direct attention at two place at once, to quiet the inner voice. Perhaps this relates to more than just speech, but to attention itself. George Gurdjieff's "The Fourth Way" deals with self remembering, and his pupil, P. D. Ouspensky, has a very vivid description in [1] of how focusing on two things at once leads to a changed state of consciousness, that seems like meditation, and comes from the saturation of the two streams of attention.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Search_of_the_Miraculous

Re: EEG shows brain can simultaneous encode two speech streams

#25
post #5

As a pilot and a radio officer, I have always been able to process and service 2 audio streams simultaneously. So not surprised with this finding.

That tracks. As a teacher I sometimes find myself conversing with multiple kids simultaniously as well. If it's nothing too deep that requires full focus, it works. (Though I do find it tiring and avoid it.)

Re: EEG shows brain can simultaneous encode two speech streams

#27
Listening to two talkers at a time is certainly doable...

As is talking whilst listening to another conversation - eg. Giving a lecture whilst eves dropping on the people talking at the back of the lecture theatre.

However, having a two way conversation with one person whilst listening to another is really hard.

Not sure why.

Re: EEG shows brain can simultaneous encode two speech streams

#28

Listening to two talkers at a time is certainly doable... As is talking whilst listening to another conversation - eg. Giving a lecture whilst eves dropping on the people talking at the back of the lecture theatre. However, having a two way conversation with one person whilst listening to another is really hard. Not sure why.

Listening and responding are likely pretty different mental activities

Re: EEG shows brain can simultaneous encode two speech streams

#30
post #18

The DJ is explained.

Many dj mixers offer the option to split the main mix to one ear and the cue’d track to the other, i have never been able to mix like that, only with cue on headphones and main mix out in the room/monitors. Weird
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