Multisensory integration and recalibration in the human brain

[摘要] To cope with the challenges posed by our dynamically changing environment we rely on a number of senses as sources of information. The information provided by different senses must be seamlessly merged into an accurate and reliable percept at any moment throughout our lives regardless of the noisyness of our environment and the constantly changing nature of our sensory systems. Our understanding of these processes has expanded exponentially in recent decades; however there is an abundance of questions yet to be answered. The present thesis addresses some of the outstanding questions regarding multisensory integration and recalibration. In Chapter 1, we give an introduction to the background of multisensory integration. In Chapter 2 we review the neural mechanisms of auditory spatial perception. In Chapter 3 we lay methodological foundations for the empirical chapters. In Chapter 4, we investigate whether multisensory integration emerges prior to perceptual awareness. In Chapter 5, we scrutinize the neural dynamics of computations related to Bayesian Causal Inference. In Chapter 6 we examine the spatio-temporal characteristics of the neural processes of multisensory adaptation. Finally, in Chapter 7 we summarise the results of the empirical chapters, discuss their contribution to the literature and outline directions of future research.

[发布机构] University:University of Birmingham;Department:School of Psychology

[关键词] B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion;BF Psychology