Multisensory integration for timing engages different brain networks.
How does the brain integrate information from different senses into a unitary percept? What factors influence such multisensory integration? Using a rhythmic behavioral paradigm and functional magnetic resonance imaging, we identified networks of brain regions for perceptions of physically synchronous and asynchronous auditory-visual events. Measures of behavioral performance revealed the existence of three distinct perceptual states. Perception of asynchrony activated a network of the primary sensory, prefrontal, and inferior parietal cortices, perception of synchrony disengaged the inferior parietal cortex and further recruited the superior colliculus, and when no clear percept was established, only the residual areas comprised of prefrontal and sensory areas were active. These results indicate that distinct percepts arise within specific brain sub-networks, the components of which are differentially engaged and disengaged depending on the timing of environmental signals.
Dhamala
Mukeshwar
M
Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 33611, USA. mdhamala@bme.ufl.edu
Assisi
Collins G
CG
Jirsa
Viktor K
VK
Steinberg
Fred L
FL
Kelso
J A Scott
JA
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*