A role for the inferior colliculus in multisensory speech integration.
Multisensory integration can occur at relatively low levels within the central nervous system. Recent evidence suggests that multisensory audio-visual integration for speech may have a subcortical component, as acoustic processing in the human brainstem is influenced by lipreading during speech perception. Here, stimuli depicting the McGurk illusion (a demonstration of auditory-visual integration using speech stimuli) were presented to a 12-year-old child (FX) with a circumscribed unilateral lesion of the right inferior colliculus. When McGurk-type stimuli were presented in the contralesional hemifield, illusory perception reflecting bimodal integration was significantly reduced compared with the ipsilesional hemifield and a group of age-matched controls. These data suggest a functional role for the inferior colliculus in the audio-visual integration of speech stimuli.
Champoux
François
F
School of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Tremblay
Corinne
C
Mercier
Claude
C
Lassonde
Maryse
M
Lepore
Franco
F
Gagné
Jean-Pierre
JP
Théoret
Hugo
H
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000293:Adolescent; D001308:Auditory Perceptual Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007245:Inferior Colliculi / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D013060:Speech; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*