title: The neural bases of crossmodal object recognition in non-human primates and rodents: a review.
abstract: The ability to integrate information from different sensory modalities to form unique multisensory object representations is a highly adaptive cognitive function. Surprisingly, non-human animal studies of the neural substrates of this form of multisensory integration have been somewhat sparse until very recently, and this may be due in part to a relative paucity of viable testing methods. Here we review the historical development and use of various "crossmodal" cognition tasks for non-human primates and rodents, focusing on tests of "crossmodal object recognition", the ability to recognize an object across sensory modalities. Such procedures have great potential to elucidate the cognitive and neural bases of object representation as it pertains to perception and memory. Indeed, these studies have revealed roles in crossmodal cognition for various brain regions (e.g., prefrontal and temporal cortices) and neurochemical systems (e.g., acetylcholine). A recent increase in behavioral and physiological studies of crossmodal cognition in rodents augurs well for the future of this research area, which should provide essential information about the basic mechanisms of object representation in the brain, in addition to fostering a better understanding of the causes of, and potential treatments for, cognitive deficits in human diseases characterized by atypical multisensory integration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Collaborative Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1.
authors.forename: Jacob M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cloke
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Collaborative Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1.
authors.forename: Derek L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Jacklin
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Collaborative Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1. Electronic address: bwinters@uoguelph.ca.
authors.forename: Boyer D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Winters
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D011323:Primates; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*; D012377:Rodentia; D055698:Touch Perception / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Binding; Cross-modal; Memory; Monkey; Multisensory; Rat