An interface for unconscious learning using mismatch negativity neurofeedback

There are a lot of skills that it takes time for us to learn in our life. To be precise, it is not clear what and how to learn. For example, one of the biggest problems in the language learning is that learners cannot recognize novel sounds that do not exist in their native language, and it is difficult to gain a listening ability for these novel sounds [1]. Here, we developed a novel neurofeedback (NF) method, using the mismatch negativity (MMN) responses elicited by similar sounds, that can help people to unconsciously improve their auditory perceptual skills. In our method, the strength of the participants' MMN as a measure of perceptual discriminability is presented as visual feedback to provide a continuous, not binary, cue for learning. We found evidence that significant performance improvement for behavioral auditory discrimination and neurophysiological measure occurs unconsciously. Based on our findings, the method has great potential to provide effortless auditory perceptual training and develop an unconscious learning interface device.