Multisensory enhancement of overt behavior requires multisensory experience.

ABSTRACT: The superior colliculus (SC) is richly endowed with neurons that integrate cues from different senses to enhance their physiological responses and the overt behaviors they mediate. However, in the absence of experience with cross-modal combinations (e.g., visual-auditory), they fail to develop this characteristic multisensory capability: Their multisensory responses are no greater than their most effective unisensory responses. Presumably, this impairment in neural development would be reflected as corresponding impairments in SC-mediated behavioral capabilities such as detection and localization performance. Here, we tested that assumption directly in cats raised to adulthood in darkness. They, along with a normally reared cohort, were trained to approach brief visual or auditory stimuli.

SUBMITTER: Smyre SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8295226 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature