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

Exp Brain Res. 2009 Jun;195(4):509-17. doi: 10.1007/s00221-009-1820-7. Epub 2009 May 5.

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acoustic Stimulation
  • Adult
  • Auditory Pathways / physiology
  • Auditory Pathways / radiation effects
  • Auditory Perception / physiology*
  • Auditory Perception / radiation effects
  • Functional Laterality / physiology
  • Humans
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Orientation / physiology
  • Parietal Lobe / anatomy & histology
  • Parietal Lobe / physiology*
  • Parietal Lobe / radiation effects
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology
  • Radiation
  • Reaction Time / physiology*
  • Reaction Time / radiation effects
  • Space Perception / physiology
  • Superior Colliculi / physiology
  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / methods*
  • Visual Cortex / anatomy & histology
  • Visual Cortex / physiology
  • Visual Cortex / radiation effects
  • Visual Pathways / physiology
  • Visual Pathways / radiation effects
  • Visual Perception / physiology*
  • Visual Perception / radiation effects
  • Young Adult