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Functional Mapping with Simultaneous MEG and EEG
Published on: June 14, 2010
Multisensory auditory-somatosensory interactions in early cortical processing revealed by high-density electrical
J J Foxe1, I A Morocz, M M Murray
1Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Program in Cognitive Neuroscience and Schizophrenia, 140 Old Orangeburg Road, 10962, Orangeburg, NY, USA. foxe@nki.rfmh.org
Brain Research. Cognitive Brain Research
|September 9, 2000
Summary
Multisensory integration occurs early in the brain, even in areas once thought to process only one sense. This study reveals auditory-somatosensory interactions happening around 50 ms after stimulation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Multisensory Processing
- Human Electrophysiology
Background:
- Traditional views suggested early cortical regions were unisensory.
- Understanding the timing and location of multisensory interactions is crucial.
- Auditory and somatosensory pathways are key sensory channels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the temporal dynamics of multisensory interactions.
- To map the scalp topography of auditory-somatosensory (AS) interactions.
- To determine if early cortical areas integrate multisensory information.
Main Methods:
- Recorded event-related potentials (ERPs) from 64 scalp electrodes.
- Applied auditory-alone, somatosensory-alone, and simultaneous AS stimulation.
- Analyzed scalp current density (SCD) topographies for interaction effects.
Main Results:
- Auditory-somatosensory interaction was observed over the central/postcentral scalp.
- Interaction effects began approximately 50 ms after stimulus presentation.
- The timing and spatial distribution suggest early cortical integration.
Conclusions:
- Multisensory integration occurs earlier in the cortical hierarchy than previously thought.
- Traditionally unisensory brain regions show evidence of multisensory processing.
- Findings challenge existing models of sensory processing specialization.
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