title: People-selectivity, audiovisual integration and heteromodality in the superior temporal sulcus.
abstract: The functional role of the superior temporal sulcus (STS) has been implicated in a number of studies, including those investigating face perception, voice perception, and face-voice integration. However, the nature of the STS preference for these 'social stimuli' remains unclear, as does the location within the STS for specific types of information processing. The aim of this study was to directly examine properties of the STS in terms of selective response to social stimuli. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to scan participants whilst they were presented with auditory, visual, or audiovisual stimuli of people or objects, with the intention of localising areas preferring both faces and voices (i.e., 'people-selective' regions) and audiovisual regions designed to specifically integrate person-related information. Results highlighted a 'people-selective, heteromodal' region in the trunk of the right STS which was activated by both faces and voices, and a restricted portion of the right posterior STS (pSTS) with an integrative preference for information from people, as compared to objects. These results point towards the dedicated role of the STS as a 'social-information processing' centre.
authors.affiliation: Maastricht Brain Imaging Center, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands; Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK. Electronic address: r.watson@psy.gla.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK; Institut des Neurosciences de La Timone, UMR 7289, CNRS & Université Aix-Marseille, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Latinus
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK; Medical Research Council-Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit (MRC-CBU), Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Charest
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Crabbe
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK; Institut des Neurosciences de La Timone, UMR 7289, CNRS & Université Aix-Marseille, Marseille, France; International Laboratories for Brain, Music and Sound (BRAMS), Université de Montréal & McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Belin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*; D063346:Singing; D013060:Speech; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000502:physiology*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D014831:Voice; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Audiovisual integration; Face sensitivity; Superior temporal sulcus; Voice sensitivity