The neural basis of audiovisual integration

Krugliak, Alexandra ORCID: 0000-0002-5031-3801 (2019). The neural basis of audiovisual integration. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

Our perception is continuous and unified. Yet, sensory information reaches our brains through different senses and needs to be processed in order to create that unified percept. Interactions between sensory modalities occur already at primary cortical levels. The purpose of such interactions and what kind of information they transmit is still largely unknown. The current thesis aimed to reveal the interactions between auditory pitch and visual size in polar coordinates, two modality specific stimulus features that have robust topographic representations in the human brain. In Chapter 1, I present the background of cross-modal interactions in early sensory cortices and of the pitch-size relationship. In Chapter 2, we explored the pitch-size relationship in a speeded classification task and, in Chapter 3, at the level of functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging activation patterns. In Chapter 4, we investigated the effects of actively learning a specific pitch-size mapping during one session on the speeded classification task. In Chapter 5, we extended learning over multiple sessions and examined learning effects with behavioral and neural measures. Finally, in Chapter 6, I summarize the findings of the thesis, its contributions to the literature, and outline directions for future research.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):