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Contrary neuronal recalibration in different multisensory cortical areas
Fu Zeng1, Adam Zaidel2, Aihua Chen1
1Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (Ministry of Education), East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
Elife
|March 6, 2023
Summary
The brain recalibrates multisensory information to reduce conflict. Neuronal tuning shifts in MSTd and PIVC follow perceptual changes, but VIP shows a unique global shift.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sensory Processing
- Brain Plasticity
Background:
- The adult brain exhibits multisensory plasticity, recalibrating based on multiple sensory inputs.
- Visual-vestibular conflict leads to perceptual shifts to reduce discrepancies.
- The neural mechanisms underlying this recalibration remain largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neural substrates of visual-vestibular recalibration.
- To examine neuronal activity in MSTd, PIVC, and VIP during recalibration.
- To understand how different brain areas contribute to multisensory integration and plasticity.
Main Methods:
- Single-neuron activity was recorded from dorsal medial superior temporal (MSTd), parietoinsular vestibular cortex (PIVC), and ventral intraparietal (VIP) areas.
- Experiments were conducted on three male rhesus macaques.
- Visual and vestibular stimuli were used to induce and measure recalibration.
Main Results:
- MSTd neurons showed shifts in both visual and vestibular tuning, aligning with perceptual shifts.
- PIVC vestibular neurons shifted tuning with vestibular perception, but were not visually tuned.
- VIP neurons exhibited a unique shift where both visual and vestibular tuning aligned with vestibular perception, not visual perception.
Conclusions:
- Unsupervised recalibration occurs in early multisensory cortices like MSTd and PIVC to resolve cue conflict.
- Higher-level area VIP reflects a global shift in vestibular space, integrating information differently.
- This suggests distinct roles for different cortical areas in multisensory recalibration and plasticity.
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