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Abstract:
Combining information across different sensory modalities can greatly facilitate our ability to detect,
discriminate or recognize sensory stimuli. While th
is process of sensory integration has classically
been attributed to association cortices, recent wo
rk suggests that neuronal activity in early sensory
cortices can also be influenced by cross-modal
inputs. Using a combination of functional imaging
and electrophysiological techniques we investigate
the neural basis underlying such ‘early’ cross-
modal influences in auditory cortices. Our results
demonstrate that visual and touch stimuli modulate
activity already in primary and secondary audito
ry cortex. Importantly, this multisensory input
enhances the trial to trial reliability of neuronal
responses and increases the information encoded by
auditory neurons about naturalistic stimuli. This le
ts us conclude that multisensory integration is a
distributed process, commencing in lower sensory areas and continuing in higher association cortices.
