Auditory-somatosensory multisensory processing in auditory association cortex: an fMRI study.
Using high-field (3 Tesla) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we demonstrate that auditory and somatosensory inputs converge in a subregion of human auditory cortex along the superior temporal gyrus. Further, simultaneous stimulation in both sensory modalities resulted in activity exceeding that predicted by summing the responses to the unisensory inputs, thereby showing multisensory integration in this convergence region. Recently, intracranial recordings in macaque monkeys have shown similar auditory-somatosensory convergence in a subregion of auditory cortex directly caudomedial to primary auditory cortex (area CM). The multisensory region identified in the present investigation may be the human homologue of CM. Our finding of auditory-somatosensory convergence in early auditory cortices contributes to mounting evidence for multisensory integration early in the cortical processing hierarchy, in brain regions that were previously assumed to be unisensory.
Foxe
John J
JJ
The Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, Cognitive Neuroscience and Schizophrenia Program, New York City, New York 10016, USA. foxe@nki.rfmh.org
Wylie
Glenn R
GR
Martinez
Antigona
A
Schroeder
Charles E
CE
Javitt
Daniel C
DC
Guilfoyle
David
D
Ritter
Walter
W
Murray
Micah M
MM
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D001303:Auditory Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology*