Uni- and multisensory brain areas are synchronised across spectators when watching unedited dance recordings

Jola, C., McAleer, P. , Grosbras, M.-H., Love, S. A., Morison, G. and Pollick, F. E. (2013) Uni- and multisensory brain areas are synchronised across spectators when watching unedited dance recordings. i-Perception, 4(4), pp. 265-284. (doi: 10.1068/i0536)

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Publisher's URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1068/i0536

Abstract

The superior temporal sulcus (STS) and gyrus (STG) are commonly identified to be functionally relevant for multisensory integration of audiovisual (AV) stimuli. However, most neuroimaging studies on AV integration used stimuli of short duration in explicit evaluative tasks. Importantly though, many of our AV experiences are of a long duration and ambiguous. It is unclear if the enhanced activity in audio, visual, and AV brain areas would also be synchronised over time across subjects when they are exposed to such multisensory stimuli. We used intersubject correlation to investigate which brain areas are synchronised across novices for uni- and multisensory versions of a 6-min 26-s recording of an unfamiliar, unedited Indian dance recording (Bharatanatyam). In Bharatanatyam, music and dance are choreographed together in a highly intermodal-dependent manner. Activity in the middle and posterior STG was significantly correlated between subjects and showed also significant enhancement for AV integration when the functional magnetic resonance signals were contrasted against each other using a general linear model conjunction analysis. These results extend previous studies by showing an intermediate step of synchronisation for novices: while there was a consensus across subjects’ brain activity in areas relevant for unisensory processing and AV integration of related audio and visual stimuli, we found no evidence for synchronisation of higher level cognitive processes, suggesting these were idiosyncratic.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:McAleer, Dr Phil and Pollick, Professor Frank and Morison, Mr Gordon and Grosbras, Dr Marie-Helene and Jola, Dr Corinne
Authors: Jola, C., McAleer, P., Grosbras, M.-H., Love, S. A., Morison, G., and Pollick, F. E.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
College of Science and Engineering > School of Psychology
Journal Name:i-Perception
Publisher:Pion
ISSN:2041-6695
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2013 The Authors
First Published:First published in i-Perception 4(4):265-284
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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