Cortical tracking of hierarchical rhythms orchestrates the multisensory processing of biological motion.

ABSTRACT: When observing others' behaviors, we continuously integrate their movements with the corresponding sounds to enhance perception and develop adaptive responses. However, how the human brain integrates these complex audiovisual cues based on their natural temporal correspondence remains unclear. Using electroencephalogram (EEG), we demonstrated that rhythmic cortical activity tracked the hierarchical rhythmic structures in audiovisually congruent human walking movements and footstep sounds. Remarkably, the cortical tracking effects exhibit distinct multisensory integration modes at two temporal scales: an additive mode in a lower-order, narrower temporal integration window (step cycle) and a super-additive enhancement in a higher-order, broader temporal window (gait cycle). Furthermore, whil

SUBMITTER: Shen L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11798571 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature