TMS modulation of visual and auditory processing in the posterior parietal cortex

Content Provider	Semantic Scholar
Author	Bolognini, Nadia Miniussi, Carlo Savazzi, Silvia Bricolo, Emanuela Maravita, Angelo
Copyright Year	2009
Abstract	Audio-visual stimuli typically yield faster responses than isolated modality-specific ones. This crossmodal speed advantage depends upon efficient multisensory integration mechanisms in the brain. Here, we used repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to address the role of the posterior parietal cortex, in particular of the inferior parietal lobule (IPL), in speeding up responses to crossmodal stimuli. The results show that rTMS over IPL impairs the response to contralateral modality-specific visual and auditory targets without affecting the response speed advantage following audio-visual targets. Furthermore, this speed advantage is subserved by a neural coactivation mechanism suggesting a summation in a given neural site. Control rTMS over V1 impaired only contralateral visual responses without affecting the response to auditory or audio-visual targets. These results suggest that the response speed advantage for crossmodal targets is maintained in spite of the IPL interference that impairs modality-specific responses. The possible role of alternative sites for the audio-visual advantage, such as the superior colliculus, is discussed.
Starting Page	509
Ending Page	517
Page Count	9
File Format	PDF HTM / HTML
DOI	10.1007/s00221-009-1820-7
PubMed reference number	19415248
Journal	Medline
Volume Number	195
Alternate Webpage(s)	http://www.cognitiveneuroscience.it/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/EBR_Bolognini_09.pdf
Alternate Webpage(s)	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-009-1820-7
Journal	Experimental Brain Research
Language	English
Access Restriction	Open
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article