Multisensory processing in "unimodal" neurons: Cross-modal subthreshold auditory effects in cat extrastriate visual cortex

被引:77
作者
Allman, Brian L. [1 ]
Meredith, M. Alex [1 ]
机构
[1] Virginia Commonwealth Univ, Sch Med, Dept Neurobiol & Anat, Richmond, VA 23298 USA
关键词
D O I
10.1152/jn.00173.2007
中图分类号
Q189 [神经科学];
学科分类号
071006 ;
摘要
Multisensory processing in "unimodal" neurons: cross-modal subthreshold auditory effects in cat extrastriate visual cortex. J Neurophysiol 98:545-549, 2007. First published May 2, 2007; doi: 10.1152/jn.00173.2007. Historically, the study of multisensory processing has examined the function of the definitive neuron type, the bimodal neuron. These neurons are excited by inputs from more than one sensory modality, and when multisensory stimuli are present, they can integrate their responses in a predictable manner. However, recent studies have revealed that multisensory processing in the cortex is not restricted to bimodal neurons. The present investigation sought to examine the potential for multisensory processing in nonbimodal (unimodal) neurons in the retinotopically organized posterolateral lateral suprasylvian (PLLS) area of the cat. Standard extracellular recordings were used to measure responses of all neurons encountered to both separate-and combined-modality stimulation. Whereas bimodal neurons behaved as predicted, the surprising result was that 16% of unimodal visual neurons encountered were significantly facilitated by auditory stimuli. Because these unimodal visual neurons did not respond to an auditory stimulus presented alone but had their visual responses modulated by concurrent auditory stimulation, they represent a new form of multisensory neuron: the subthreshold multisensory neuron. These data also demonstrate that bimodal neurons can no longer be regarded as the exclusive basis for multisensory processing.
引用
收藏
页码:545 / 549
页数:5
相关论文
共 16 条
[1]  
BIZLEY JK, 2006, CEREB CORTEX
[2]  
Calvert G.A., 2004, HDB MULTISENSORY PRO
[3]   Cross-modal circuitry between auditory and somatosensory areas of the cat anterior ectosylvian sulcal cortex: A 'new' inhibitory form of multisensory convergence [J].
Dehner, LR ;
Keniston, LP ;
Clemo, HR ;
Meredith, MA .
CEREBRAL CORTEX, 2004, 14 (04) :387-403
[4]   RESPONSIVENESS TO SENSORY STIMULATION OF UNITS IN SUPERIOR COLLICULUS AND SUBJACENT TECTOTEGMENTAL REGIONS OF RABBIT [J].
HORN, G ;
HILL, RM .
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY, 1966, 14 (02) :199-&
[5]   Crossmodal projections from somatosensory area SIV to the auditory field of the anterior ectosylvian sulcus (FAES) in Cat: further evidence for subthreshold forms of multisensory processing [J].
Meredith, M. Alex ;
Keniston, Leslie R. ;
Dehner, Lisa R. ;
Clemo, H. Ruth .
EXPERIMENTAL BRAIN RESEARCH, 2006, 172 (04) :472-484
[6]   INTERACTIONS AMONG CONVERGING SENSORY INPUTS IN THE SUPERIOR COLLICULUS [J].
MEREDITH, MA ;
STEIN, BE .
SCIENCE, 1983, 221 (4608) :389-391
[7]   VISUAL, AUDITORY, AND SOMATOSENSORY CONVERGENCE ON CELLS IN SUPERIOR COLLICULUS RESULTS IN MULTISENSORY INTEGRATION [J].
MEREDITH, MA ;
STEIN, BE .
JOURNAL OF NEUROPHYSIOLOGY, 1986, 56 (03) :640-662
[8]   On the neuronal basis for multisensory convergence: a brief overview [J].
Meredith, MA .
COGNITIVE BRAIN RESEARCH, 2002, 14 (01) :31-40
[9]   BINAURAL RESPONSE-SPECIFIC BANDS IN PRIMARY AUDITORY-CORTEX (AI) OF THE CAT - TOPOGRAPHICAL ORGANIZATION ORTHOGONAL TO ISOFREQUENCY CONTOURS [J].
MIDDLEBROOKS, JC ;
DYKES, RW ;
MERZENICH, MM .
BRAIN RESEARCH, 1980, 181 (01) :31-48
[10]   INTEGRATION OF VISUAL AND INFRARED INFORMATION IN BIOMODAL NEURONS OF THE RATTLESNAKE OPTIC TECTUM [J].
NEWMAN, EA ;
HARTLINE, PH .
SCIENCE, 1981, 213 (4509) :789-791