Description
Multisensory integration enhances perception and behaviour, often leading to faster reaction times when multiple sensory signals are presented simultaneously, a phenomenon known as the redundant signals effect (RSE). This facilitation suggests an interaction between sensory modalities, which can be quantified through violations of so-called Miller’s bound. To investigate the neural mechanisms underlying this effect, we adapted the classic RSE paradigm for a steady-state evoked potential (SSEP) experiment, eventually allowing us to track the temporal dynamics of multisensory processing. In our paradigm, we used volume-modulated noise and phase-modulated Gabor patches as frequency tags to elicit steady-state responses in auditory and visual modalities (using 2.5Hz and 3.75Hz, respectively). Behavioural targets were defined as changes in carrier frequency and Gabor orientation, with detecting a change in either dimension requiring a response. We employed a 2×2 design in which the onset of behavioural targets was either synchronous or asynchronous with the frequency tags in vision and audition, respectively. Pilot data (n=5) indicate that unisensory reaction times are modulated by the synchronicity of targets with frequency tags, suggesting an interaction between ongoing oscillatory processing and behavioural responses. Critically, we observed the expected RSE in all conditions, along with violations of Miller’s bound, which provides typical evidence for multisensory interactions. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of our adapted paradigm for studying multisensory processing using SSEP and offer a novel approach to investigating how oscillatory neural activity shapes perceptual decision-making.| Period | 15 Jul 2025 |
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| Event title | 23rd International Multisensory Research Forum |
| Event type | Conference |
| Location | Durham, United KingdomShow on map |
| Degree of Recognition | International |