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A role for the inferior colliculus in multisensory speech integration
François Champoux1, Corinne Tremblay, Claude Mercier
1School of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Neuroreport
|September 27, 2006
Summary
The inferior colliculus, a brainstem structure, plays a role in multisensory audio-visual speech integration. Damage to this area reduced the McGurk illusion, impacting speech perception.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Multisensory Processing
Background:
- Multisensory integration, the combination of information from different senses, can occur in the central nervous system.
- Evidence suggests subcortical involvement in audio-visual speech integration, where lipreading influences auditory processing in the brainstem.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the inferior colliculus in audio-visual integration of speech stimuli.
- To examine the effect of a unilateral inferior colliculus lesion on the McGurk illusion.
Main Methods:
- Presentation of McGurk illusion stimuli to a 12-year-old child (FX) with a right inferior colliculus lesion.
- Comparison of illusory perception in contralesional and ipsilesional hemifields, and with age-matched controls.
Main Results:
- Illusory perception reflecting audio-visual integration was significantly reduced in the contralesional hemifield compared to the ipsilesional hemifield.
- The child with the lesion showed reduced illusory perception compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- The inferior colliculus plays a functional role in the audio-visual integration of speech.
- These findings highlight the subcortical contribution to multisensory speech perception.
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