Electrophysiological evidence of nonspatial inhibition of return affecting audiovisual integration

The present study endeavored to investigate the potential neural underpinnings of disparities in audiovisual integration (AVI) between valid and invalid targets, modulated by nonspatial inhibition of return (IOR). Concurrently, we sought to delineate the distinct roles subserved by Chinese character primes and color block primes throughout this process.

We employed a prime-neutral cue-target paradigm, wherein 25 college students participated in the experiment. Behavioral measures encompassed the reaction time, IOR effect, multisensory response enhancement, and race model analysis. Besides, we examined the N200, N400, and P300 components elicited by the target stimulus presentation in a time-locked fashion to investigate the neural underpinnings of AVI disparities in the context of valid and invalid targets.

Behavioral analyses unveiled a significant attenuation of AVI for valid targets, with this effect being particularly pronounced in trials involving Chinese character primes. Intriguingly, event-related potential (ERP) data evinced AVI within the N400 and P300 components. Moreover, the novelty of this study resides in identifying the P300 component as the principal neural correlate underpinning the attenuation of AVI arising from nonspatial IOR-a finding that was not replicated when employing color block primes.

This research furnishes novel ERP evidence that elucidates the mechanisms through which nonspatial IOR modulates AVI. This contributes significantly to a broader understanding of the cognitive processes underpinning multisensory perception and attentional dynamics. These insights not only corroborate the late attention theory and the coactivation model but also lend credence to the context-updating hypothesis. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).