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Rapidly induced auditory plasticity: the ventriloquism aftereffect
1Center for Neuroscience and Section of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California at Davis, 1544 Newton Ct., Davis, CA 95616, USA. ghrecanzone@ucdavis.edu
Summary
The ventriloquism aftereffect shows rapid changes in how the brain processes sound location. This suggests quick adjustments in the brain's representation of acoustic space, possibly starting in the primary auditory cortex.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Auditory Perception
- Sensory Plasticity
Background:
- Cortical representational plasticity is documented following injuries and skill acquisition.
- Rapid changes in cortical neuronal responses are observed via microstimulation and conditioning.
- The ventriloquism aftereffect demonstrates a shift in auditory perception due to audiovisual stimuli.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate rapidly induced changes in the ventriloquism aftereffect.
- To explore the underlying cortical representation of acoustic space.
- To determine if changes begin in the primary auditory cortex.
Main Methods:
- Human subjects exposed to spatially disparate audiovisual stimuli.
- Measurement of the ventriloquism aftereffect duration and magnitude.
- Comparison with macaque monkey primary auditory cortex neuronal responses.
Main Results:
- A 20-30 minute exposure to an 8-degree audiovisual mismatch caused a similar shift in auditory perception.
- This effect is consistent across subjects and acoustic frequencies.
- Evidence suggests plasticity may initiate in the primary auditory cortex.
Conclusions:
- The ventriloquism aftereffect reflects rapid changes in the cortical representation of acoustic space.
- These rapid sensory-driven cortical changes are not limited to motor skills.
- Plasticity in the primary auditory cortex may underlie the ventriloquism aftereffect.