Uncovering Multisensory Processing Through NIBS

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Most of current knowledge about the mechanisms of multisensory integration of environmental

stimuli by the human brain derives from neuroimaging experiments. However, neuroimaging

studies do not always provide conclusive evidence about the causal role of a given area for

multisensory interactions, since these techniques can mainly derive correlations between

brain activations and behavior. Conversely, techniques of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS)

represent a unique and powerful approach to inform models of causal relations between

specific brain regions and individual cognitive and perceptual functions. Although NIBS has been

widely used in cognitive neuroscience, its use in the study of multisensory processing in the

human brain appears a quite novel field of research. In this paper, we review and discuss recent

studies that have used two techniques of NIBS, namely transcranial magnetic stimulation and

transcranial direct current stimulation, for investigating the causal involvement of unisensory

and heteromodal cortical areas in multisensory processing, the effects of multisensory cues on

cortical excitability in unisensory areas, and the putative functional connections among different

cortical areas subserving multisensory interactions. The emerging view is that NIBS is an

essential tool available to neuroscientists seeking for causal relationships between a given area

or network and multisensory processes. With its already large and fast increasing usage, future

work using NIBS in isolation, as well as in conjunction with different neuroimaging techniques,

could substantially improve our understanding of multisensory processing in the human brain.

'Nuff said. Enjoy! PDF