Organization, maturation and plasticity of multisensory integration: Insights from computational modelling studies
In this paper, we present two neural network models - devoted to two specific and widely investigated aspects of multisensory integration - in order to evidence the potentialities of computational models to gain insight into the neural mechanisms underlying organization, development and plasticity o...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2011-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2011.00077/full |
| _version_ | 1818112714360225792 |
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| author | Cristiano eCuppini Elisa eMagosso Mauro eUrsino |
| author_facet | Cristiano eCuppini Elisa eMagosso Mauro eUrsino |
| author_sort | Cristiano eCuppini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this paper, we present two neural network models - devoted to two specific and widely investigated aspects of multisensory integration - in order to evidence the potentialities of computational models to gain insight into the neural mechanisms underlying organization, development and plasticity of multisensory integration in the brain. The first model considers visual-auditory interaction in a midbrain structure named Superior Colliculus (SC). The model is able to reproduce and explain the main physiological features of multisensory integration in SC neurons and to describe how SC integrative capability – not present at birth - develops gradually during postnatal life depending on sensory experience with cross-modal stimuli. The second model tackles the problem of how tactile stimuli on a body part and visual (or auditory) stimuli close to the same body part are integrated in multimodal parietal neurons to form the perception of peripersonal (i.e., near) space. The model investigates how the extension of peripersonal space - where multimodal integration occurs - may be modified by experience such as use of a tool to interact with the far space. The utility of the modelling approach relies on several aspects: i) The two models, although devoted to different problems and simulating different brain regions, share some common mechanisms (lateral inhibition and excitation, non-linear neuron characteristics, recurrent connections, competition, Hebbian rules of potentiation and depression) that may govern more generally the fusion of senses in the brain, and the learning and plasticity of multisensory integration. ii) The models may help interpretation of behavioural and psychophysical responses in terms of neural activity and synaptic connections. iii) The models can make testable predictions that can help guiding future experiments in order to validate, reject, or modify the main assumptions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T03:23:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bf1d8bfc46e14135aeb122f26d979787 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T03:23:19Z |
| publishDate | 2011-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-bf1d8bfc46e14135aeb122f26d9797872022-12-22T01:22:35ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782011-05-01210.3389/fpsyg.2011.000779077Organization, maturation and plasticity of multisensory integration: Insights from computational modelling studiesCristiano eCuppini0Elisa eMagosso1Mauro eUrsino2University of BolognaUniversity of BolognaUniversity of BolognaIn this paper, we present two neural network models - devoted to two specific and widely investigated aspects of multisensory integration - in order to evidence the potentialities of computational models to gain insight into the neural mechanisms underlying organization, development and plasticity of multisensory integration in the brain. The first model considers visual-auditory interaction in a midbrain structure named Superior Colliculus (SC). The model is able to reproduce and explain the main physiological features of multisensory integration in SC neurons and to describe how SC integrative capability – not present at birth - develops gradually during postnatal life depending on sensory experience with cross-modal stimuli. The second model tackles the problem of how tactile stimuli on a body part and visual (or auditory) stimuli close to the same body part are integrated in multimodal parietal neurons to form the perception of peripersonal (i.e., near) space. The model investigates how the extension of peripersonal space - where multimodal integration occurs - may be modified by experience such as use of a tool to interact with the far space. The utility of the modelling approach relies on several aspects: i) The two models, although devoted to different problems and simulating different brain regions, share some common mechanisms (lateral inhibition and excitation, non-linear neuron characteristics, recurrent connections, competition, Hebbian rules of potentiation and depression) that may govern more generally the fusion of senses in the brain, and the learning and plasticity of multisensory integration. ii) The models may help interpretation of behavioural and psychophysical responses in terms of neural activity and synaptic connections. iii) The models can make testable predictions that can help guiding future experiments in order to validate, reject, or modify the main assumptions.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2011.00077/fullneural mechanismsbehavioursuperior colliculusLearning and plasticityMultisensory neuronsNeural network modelling |
| spellingShingle | Cristiano eCuppini Elisa eMagosso Mauro eUrsino Organization, maturation and plasticity of multisensory integration: Insights from computational modelling studies Frontiers in Psychology neural mechanisms behaviour superior colliculus Learning and plasticity Multisensory neurons Neural network modelling |
| title | Organization, maturation and plasticity of multisensory integration: Insights from computational modelling studies |
| title_full | Organization, maturation and plasticity of multisensory integration: Insights from computational modelling studies |
| title_fullStr | Organization, maturation and plasticity of multisensory integration: Insights from computational modelling studies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Organization, maturation and plasticity of multisensory integration: Insights from computational modelling studies |
| title_short | Organization, maturation and plasticity of multisensory integration: Insights from computational modelling studies |
| title_sort | organization maturation and plasticity of multisensory integration insights from computational modelling studies |
| topic | neural mechanisms behaviour superior colliculus Learning and plasticity Multisensory neurons Neural network modelling |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2011.00077/full |
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