The influence of local cortical oscillations and distributed connectivity networks on multisensory perception

我们永久地监测和整合通过我们的感觉系统到达我们的周围环境的信息。近年来的一些经验发现提供了一个感觉区域的皮层活动如何影响另一个感觉皮层区域的刺激处理的证据。此外，一些研究结果表明，即将到来的知觉的功能皮质状态的影响。最近的电生理学研究提供了证据，正在进行的振荡和皮层网络中的神经连接在多感觉刺激的整合和有意识感知中起着重要作用。然而，只有少数研究分析了多感觉刺激处理的背景下，皮层网络内的神经连接和信息流。此外，只有很少的研究通过认知过程专门影响局部皮质活动和神经连接。现在，当前提案的主要目标是研究正在进行的振荡，神经连接和皮层网络内的信息流如何影响即将到来的多感官刺激的整合和感知。一个特别的重点是设置在注意力和期望对皮层过程和有意识的知觉的影响。因此，目前的项目是针对两个互补的研究问题：1）什么是正在进行的振荡和信息流在皮层网络的处理和感知即将到来的多感官刺激的作用？和2）以何种方式影响认知过程，如注意和期望这种处理？这些问题将在一些人类实验中得到解决，其中将使用实验视听错觉范例。拟议的实验包括脑电图和皮层脑电图结合国家的最先进的源分析方法。当前项目的结果将扩展我们对皮层网络中持续振荡如何影响不同感觉方式的感觉刺激的感知和整合以及认知过程在其中发挥作用的理解。

We permanently monitor and integrate information from our surroundings that reaches us through our sensory systems. A number of empirical findings from recent years provided evidence how cortical activity in one sensory area affects stimulus processing in another sensory cortical area. Moreover, a number of findings suggest an influence of the functional cortical state on upcoming perception. Recent electrophysiological studies have provided evidence that ongoing oscillations and neural connectivity in cortical networks play an important role in the integration and conscious perception of multisensory stimuli. However, only few studies have analyzed neural connectivity and information flow within cortical networks in the context of multisensory stimulus processing. Moreover, there are only few studies, which have specifically influenced local cortical activity and neural connectivity by cognitive processes. Now, the main objective of the current proposal is to investigate how ongoing oscillations, neural connectivity and the information flow within cortical networks influences the integration and perception of upcoming multisensory stimuli. A particular focus is set on the influence of attention and expectations on cortical processes and conscious perception. Therefore, the current project is aimed at two complementary research questions: 1) What is the role of ongoing oscillations and information flow within cortical networks for the processing and perception of upcoming multisensory stimuli? And 2) In which way influence cognitive processes such as attention and expectations this processing? These questions will be addressed in a number of human experiments, in which experimental audiovisual illusion paradigms will be used. The proposed experiments comprise electroencephalography and electrocorticography in combination with state-of-the-art source analysis approaches. The results of the current project will extend our understanding of how ongoing oscillations in cortical networks influence the perception and integration of sensory stimuli across different sensory modalities and on which level cognitive processes play a role therein.