scholarly journals Do Sensory Cortices Process More than One Sensory Modality during Perceptual Judgments?

Neuron ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 335-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Lemus ◽  
Adrián Hernández ◽  
Rogelio Luna ◽  
Antonio Zainos ◽  
Ranulfo Romo
Keyword(s):  
Sensory Modality ◽  
Perceptual Judgments ◽  
Sensory Cortices

scholarly journals Retinotopic-like maps of spatial sound in primary ‘visual’ cortex of blind human echolocators

2019 ◽  
Vol 286 (1912) ◽  
pp. 20191910 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liam J. Norman ◽  
Lore Thaler
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Primary Visual Cortex ◽  
Functional Organization ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Sensory Modality ◽  
Spatial Sound ◽  
Sensory Cortices ◽  
Spatial Locations ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Rule Out

The functional specializations of cortical sensory areas were traditionally viewed as being tied to specific modalities. A radically different emerging view is that the brain is organized by task rather than sensory modality, but it has not yet been shown that this applies to primary sensory cortices. Here, we report such evidence by showing that primary ‘visual’ cortex can be adapted to map spatial locations of sound in blind humans who regularly perceive space through sound echoes. Specifically, we objectively quantify the similarity between measured stimulus maps for sound eccentricity and predicted stimulus maps for visual eccentricity in primary ‘visual’ cortex (using a probabilistic atlas based on cortical anatomy) to find that stimulus maps for sound in expert echolocators are directly comparable to those for vision in sighted people. Furthermore, the degree of this similarity is positively related with echolocation ability. We also rule out explanations based on top-down modulation of brain activity—e.g. through imagery. This result is clear evidence that task-specific organization can extend even to primary sensory cortices, and in this way is pivotal in our reinterpretation of the functional organization of the human brain.

scholarly journals Cortical and Subcortical Circuits for Cross-Modal Plasticity Induced by Loss of Vision

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabrielle Ewall ◽  
Samuel Parkins ◽  
Amy Lin ◽  
Yanis Jaoui ◽  
Hey-Kyoung Lee
Keyword(s):  
Contextual Information ◽  
General Structure ◽  
Sensory Modality ◽  
Loss Of Vision ◽  
Functional Connections ◽  
Cortical Areas ◽  
Primary Sensory Cortex ◽  
Sensory Cortices ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Compensatory Plasticity

Cortical areas are highly interconnected both via cortical and subcortical pathways, and primary sensory cortices are not isolated from this general structure. In primary sensory cortical areas, these pre-existing functional connections serve to provide contextual information for sensory processing and can mediate adaptation when a sensory modality is lost. Cross-modal plasticity in broad terms refers to widespread plasticity across the brain in response to losing a sensory modality, and largely involves two distinct changes: cross-modal recruitment and compensatory plasticity. The former involves recruitment of the deprived sensory area, which includes the deprived primary sensory cortex, for processing the remaining senses. Compensatory plasticity refers to plasticity in the remaining sensory areas, including the spared primary sensory cortices, to enhance the processing of its own sensory inputs. Here, we will summarize potential cellular plasticity mechanisms involved in cross-modal recruitment and compensatory plasticity, and review cortical and subcortical circuits to the primary sensory cortices which can mediate cross-modal plasticity upon loss of vision.

Neural mechanisms of intermodal attention in human EEG/MEG

2012 ◽  
Vol 25 (0) ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
Christian Keitel ◽  
Erich Schröger ◽  
Matthias M. Müller
Keyword(s):  
Sensory Processing ◽  
Sensory Modality ◽  
Neural Mechanisms ◽  
Attentional Modulation ◽  
Capacity Limitation ◽  
Attentional Resources ◽  
Brain Responses ◽  
Sensory Modalities ◽  
Sensory Cortices ◽  
Filter Mechanism

Attention has been conceptualized as a filter mechanism that suffices the fundamental capacity limitation of sensory processing by selecting the input of most behavioral relevance. Recent research has demonstrated that information can be selected by attention based on the sensory modality it is presented in. However, it is not yet known whether this ‘intermodal’ selection relies on common attentional resources. Alternatively, each sensory modality might draw on an independent pool of resources. The present work investigates the neural mechanisms of sustained intermodal attention by pitting the notions of common vs. modality-specific attentional resources against each other. To this end, concurrently presented, frequency-tagged auditory and visual stimuli elicited continuous electrophysiological brain responses in respective early sensory cortices. Three experiments probed (1) whether attention to a particular sensory modality results in a modality-specific modulation of processing, (2) whether this modulation of processing is a facilitation of the attended, an inhibition of the unattended sensory modality or a combination of both factors, and (3) whether stimuli of different sensory modalities enter a competition for processing, thus necessitating intermodal attention to rely on common attentional resources. Attentional modulation of stimulus processing was found to be modality-specific. This modulation likely involved two separate mechanisms: a facilitation of stimuli presented to attended sensory modalities that led to an inhibition of stimuli presented to unattended modalities. As a complementary result, stimuli were found to enter a competition for processing within but not between modalities. In conclusion, the present findings provide evidence for early sensory processing to rely on modality-specific rather than common attentional resources.

scholarly journals Visual deprivation independent shift of ocular dominance induced by cross-modal plasticity

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Teichert ◽  
Marcel Isstas ◽  
Lutz Liebmann ◽  
Christian A. Hübner ◽  
Franziska Wieske ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Experience ◽  
Late Onset ◽  
Ocular Dominance ◽  
Sensory Modality ◽  
Convincing Evidence ◽  
Intrinsic Signal ◽  
Adult Mice ◽  
Layer 4 ◽  
Sensory Cortices ◽  
Contralateral Eye

AbstractThere is convincing evidence that the deprivation of one sense can lead to adaptive neuronal changes in the spared primary sensory cortices. However, the repercussions of late-onset sensory deprivations on functionality of the remaining sensory cortices are poorly understood. Using repeated intrinsic signal imaging we investigated the effects of whisker or auditory deprivation (WD or AD, respectively) on responsiveness of the binocular primary visual cortex (V1) in fully adult mice. The binocular zone of mice is innervated by both eyes, with the contralateral eye always dominating V1 input over ipsilateral eye input, the normal ocular dominance (OD) ratio. Strikingly, we found that 3 days after WD or AD there was a transient shift of OD, which was mediated by a potentiation of V1 input through the ipsilateral eye. This cross-modal effect was accompanied by strengthening of V1 layer 4 synapses, required visual experience through the ipsilateral eye and was mediated by an increase of the excitation/inhibition ratio in V1. Finally, we demonstrate that both WD and AD induced a long-lasting improvement of visual performance. Our data provide evidence that the deprivation of a non-visual sensory modality cross-modally induces experience dependent V1 plasticity and improves visual behavior, even in adult mice.

scholarly journals Attentional selection of location and modality in vision and touch modulates low-frequency activity in associated sensory cortices

2012 ◽  
Vol 107 (9) ◽  
pp. 2342-2351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus Bauer ◽  
Steffan Kennett ◽  
Jon Driver
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Attention ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Sensory Modality ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Spatial Location ◽  
Occipital Cortex ◽  
Sensory Cortex ◽  
Sensory Cortices ◽  
Oscillatory Brain Activity ◽  
Selection Of

Selective attention allows us to focus on particular sensory modalities and locations. Relatively little is known about how attention to a sensory modality may relate to selection of other features, such as spatial location, in terms of brain oscillations, although it has been proposed that low-frequency modulation (α- and β-bands) may be key. Here, we investigated how attention to space (left or right) and attention to modality (vision or touch) affect ongoing low-frequency oscillatory brain activity over human sensory cortex. Magnetoencephalography was recorded while participants performed a visual or tactile task. In different blocks, touch or vision was task-relevant, whereas spatial attention was cued to the left or right on each trial. Attending to one or other modality suppressed α-oscillations over the corresponding sensory cortex. Spatial attention led to reduced α-oscillations over both sensorimotor and occipital cortex contralateral to the attended location in the cue-target interval, when either modality was task-relevant. Even modality-selective sensors also showed spatial-attention effects for both modalities. The visual and sensorimotor results were generally highly convergent, yet, although attention effects in occipital cortex were dominant in the α-band, in sensorimotor cortex, these were also clearly present in the β-band. These results extend previous findings that spatial attention can operate in a multimodal fashion and indicate that attention to space and modality both rely on similar mechanisms that modulate low-frequency oscillations.

Supporting the Use of Rudimentary Vocalizations

2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 132-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Zubow ◽  
Richard Hurtig
Keyword(s):  
Rett Syndrome ◽  
Visual Cues ◽  
Acoustic Analysis ◽  
Eye Gaze ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Primary Research ◽  
Multiple Modalities ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Perceptual Judgments ◽  
The Face

Children with Rett Syndrome (RS) are reported to use multiple modalities to communicate although their intentionality is often questioned (Bartolotta, Zipp, Simpkins, & Glazewski, 2011; Hetzroni & Rubin, 2006; Sigafoos et al., 2000; Sigafoos, Woodyatt, Tuckeer, Roberts-Pennell, & Pittendreigh, 2000). This paper will present results of a study analyzing the unconventional vocalizations of a child with RS. The primary research question addresses the ability of familiar and unfamiliar listeners to interpret unconventional vocalizations as “yes” or “no” responses. This paper will also address the acoustic analysis and perceptual judgments of these vocalizations. Pre-recorded isolated vocalizations of “yes” and “no” were presented to 5 listeners (mother, father, 1 unfamiliar, and 2 familiar clinicians) and the listeners were asked to rate the vocalizations as either “yes” or “no.” The ratings were compared to the original identification made by the child's mother during the face-to-face interaction from which the samples were drawn. Findings of this study suggest, in this case, the child's vocalizations were intentional and could be interpreted by familiar and unfamiliar listeners as either “yes” or “no” without contextual or visual cues. The results suggest that communication partners should be trained to attend to eye-gaze and vocalizations to ensure the child's intended choice is accurately understood.

A mathematical model of real-world object shape predicts human perceptual judgments

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caterina Magri ◽  
Andrew Marantan ◽  
L Mahadevan ◽  
Talia Konkle
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Real World ◽  
Object Shape ◽  
Perceptual Judgments

The Axis Feature: Illusionary Effects on Children's Judgments of Length

1982 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 720-722
Author(s):  
Anat Scher
Keyword(s):  
Relative Length ◽  
The Other ◽  
Context Model ◽  
Structural Pattern ◽  
Perceptual Judgments ◽  
Length Estimation ◽  
Different Diameters

The effect of the position of lines on length estimation was investigated. 40 5-yr.-olds were asked to compare the two arms of an L-shaped figure presented inside circular frames of different diameters. For each figure one of the arms was on the axis, that is, the diameter, and the other arm was perpendicular to that axis. In making perceptual judgments about the relative length of two lines the children tended to describe the on-axis line as longer than the off-axis line. This illusion which, presumably, reflects a perceptual force induced by the characteristics of the structural pattern, supports the context model of visual anomalies.

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