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Mapping Cortical Dynamics Using Simultaneous MEG/EEG and Anatomically-constrained Minimum-norm Estimates: an Auditory Attention Example
Published on: October 24, 2012
Modality-independent role of the primary auditory cortex in time estimation
Ryota Kanai1, Harriet Lloyd, Domenica Bueti
1Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience & Department of Psychology, University College London, 17 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AR, UK. r.kanai@ucl.ac.uk
Experimental Brain Research
|February 15, 2011
Summary
The auditory cortex, not just the visual cortex, plays a key role in processing time perception for both sound and visual stimuli. This suggests the auditory system is crucial for encoding time across senses.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Sensory Processing
Background:
- Time perception relies on both modality-specific and supramodal mechanisms.
- Early sensory areas are typically assumed to be modality-specific for time estimation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if early sensory cortices (auditory and visual) contribute to time perception independently of sensory input modality.
- To explore the role of the auditory cortex in supramodal time processing.
Main Methods:
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to disrupt activity in the primary auditory cortex and primary visual cortex.
- Participants performed auditory and visual time estimation tasks following TMS.
Main Results:
- Disrupting the auditory cortex impaired time estimation for both auditory and visual stimuli.
- Disrupting the primary visual cortex only impaired visual time estimation.
- The auditory cortex demonstrated a supramodal role in time perception, while the visual cortex showed a modality-specific role.
Conclusions:
- The auditory cortex plays a significant supramodal role in time perception.
- The auditory system may be the primary system for encoding temporal information, with visual input potentially being converted to an auditory representation for time discrimination.
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