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Attention to sound improves auditory reliability in audio-tactile spatial optimal integration

The role of attention on multisensory processing is still poorly understood. In particular, it is unclear whether directing attention toward a sensory cue dynamically reweights cue reliability during integration of multiple sensory signals. In this study, we investigated the impact of attention in c...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Vercillo, Tiziana, Gori, Monica
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Frontiers Media S.A. 2015
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4423351/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25999825
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnint.2015.00034
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author Vercillo, Tiziana
Gori, Monica
author_facet Vercillo, Tiziana
Gori, Monica
author_sort Vercillo, Tiziana
collection PubMed
description The role of attention on multisensory processing is still poorly understood. In particular, it is unclear whether directing attention toward a sensory cue dynamically reweights cue reliability during integration of multiple sensory signals. In this study, we investigated the impact of attention in combining audio-tactile signals in an optimal fashion. We used the Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) model to predict audio-tactile spatial localization on the body surface. We developed a new audio-tactile device composed by several small units, each one consisting of a speaker and a tactile vibrator independently controllable by external software. We tested participants in an attentional and a non-attentional condition. In the attentional experiment, participants performed a dual task paradigm: they were required to evaluate the duration of a sound while performing an audio-tactile spatial task. Three unisensory or multisensory stimuli, conflictual or not conflictual sounds and vibrations arranged along the horizontal axis, were presented sequentially. In the primary task participants had to evaluate in a space bisection task the position of the second stimulus (the probe) with respect to the others (the standards). In the secondary task they had to report occasionally changes in duration of the second auditory stimulus. In the non-attentional task participants had only to perform the primary task (space bisection). Our results showed an enhanced auditory precision (and auditory weights) in the auditory attentional condition with respect to the control non-attentional condition. The results of this study support the idea that modality-specific attention modulates multisensory integration.
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spelling pubmed-44233512015-05-21 Attention to sound improves auditory reliability in audio-tactile spatial optimal integration Vercillo, Tiziana Gori, Monica Front Integr Neurosci Neuroscience The role of attention on multisensory processing is still poorly understood. In particular, it is unclear whether directing attention toward a sensory cue dynamically reweights cue reliability during integration of multiple sensory signals. In this study, we investigated the impact of attention in combining audio-tactile signals in an optimal fashion. We used the Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) model to predict audio-tactile spatial localization on the body surface. We developed a new audio-tactile device composed by several small units, each one consisting of a speaker and a tactile vibrator independently controllable by external software. We tested participants in an attentional and a non-attentional condition. In the attentional experiment, participants performed a dual task paradigm: they were required to evaluate the duration of a sound while performing an audio-tactile spatial task. Three unisensory or multisensory stimuli, conflictual or not conflictual sounds and vibrations arranged along the horizontal axis, were presented sequentially. In the primary task participants had to evaluate in a space bisection task the position of the second stimulus (the probe) with respect to the others (the standards). In the secondary task they had to report occasionally changes in duration of the second auditory stimulus. In the non-attentional task participants had only to perform the primary task (space bisection). Our results showed an enhanced auditory precision (and auditory weights) in the auditory attentional condition with respect to the control non-attentional condition. The results of this study support the idea that modality-specific attention modulates multisensory integration. Frontiers Media S.A. 2015-05-07 /pmc/articles/PMC4423351/ /pubmed/25999825 http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnint.2015.00034 Text en Copyright © 2015 Vercillo and Gori. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
spellingShingle Neuroscience
Vercillo, Tiziana
Gori, Monica
Attention to sound improves auditory reliability in audio-tactile spatial optimal integration
title Attention to sound improves auditory reliability in audio-tactile spatial optimal integration
title_full Attention to sound improves auditory reliability in audio-tactile spatial optimal integration
title_fullStr Attention to sound improves auditory reliability in audio-tactile spatial optimal integration
title_full_unstemmed Attention to sound improves auditory reliability in audio-tactile spatial optimal integration
title_short Attention to sound improves auditory reliability in audio-tactile spatial optimal integration
title_sort attention to sound improves auditory reliability in audio-tactile spatial optimal integration
topic Neuroscience
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4423351/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25999825
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnint.2015.00034
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