FROM HEARING TO MEMORY: AN INTEGRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW ON THE NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL INTEGRATION OF PERCEPTION AND LEARNING

Abstract

This article aimed to analyze scientific evidence on the neurophysiological integration of auditory perception, attention, learning, and memory in humans. An integrative literature review was conducted using descriptive and narrative analysis, with searches in PubMed and the Virtual Health Library (VHL), considering publications from 2016 to 2026. The findings suggest that auditory perception interacts with neural networks involved in attention, emotional evaluation, and memory. Training and auditory and multisensory experiences were associated with changes in neural processing and improvements in specific perceptual and cognitive abilities. Key findings included perceptual learning, improved speech-in-noise understanding and working memory, reduced listening effort, and greater neural differentiation between attended and unattended speech under specific conditions. The review concludes that auditory processing actively contributes to learning and memory-related processes. However, the small number of studies and the diversity of populations, tasks, and study designs limit the generalizability of the findings to overall cognitive performance and information retention.