Children’s cortical speech tracking in face-to-face and online video communication

Abstract

Abstract In today’s digital age, online video communication has become an important way for children to interact with their social partners, especially given the increased use of such tools during the pandemic. While previous studies suggest that children can learn and engage well in virtual settings, there is limited evidence examining the neural mechanisms supporting speech processing in face-to-face and video interactions. This study examines 5-year-old German speaking children’s cortical speech tracking (n = 29), a measure of how their brains process speech, in both scenarios. Our findings indicate comparable levels of cortical speech tracking in both conditions, albeit with subtle differences. This implies that children exhibit similar neural responses to speech in both situations and may adopt different strategies to overcome potential challenges in video communication. These neural results align with previous behavioural findings, supporting the notion that live online video interactions can serve as an effective communication medium for children.