Superadditive and Subadditive Neural Processing of Dynamic Auditory-Visual Objects in the Presence of Congruent Odors

Abstract Our sensory experiences comprise a variety of different inputs at any given time. Some of these experiences are unmistakable, others are ambiguous and profit from additional sensory information. Here, we explored whether the presence of a congruent odor influences the neural processing and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Chemical senses 2018-01, Vol.43 (1), p.35-44
Main Authors: Ohla, Kathrin, Höchenberger, Richard, Freiherr, Jessica, Lundström, Johan N
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acoustic Stimulation
Adult
Auditory Perception - physiology
Brain - physiology
Brain Mapping - methods
Electroencephalography
Female
Humans
Male
Odorants
Photic Stimulation
Visual Perception - physiology
Young Adult
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Summary:Abstract Our sensory experiences comprise a variety of different inputs at any given time. Some of these experiences are unmistakable, others are ambiguous and profit from additional sensory information. Here, we explored whether the presence of a congruent odor influences the neural processing and sensory interaction of audio-visual objects using degraded videos (V) and sounds (A) of dynamic objects in unimodal and bimodal (AV) combinations without or with a congruent odor (VO, AO, AVO). Analyses of EEG data revealed superadditive and subadditive interaction effects. The topography and timing of these effects suggest evaluative rather than sensory processes as the underlying cause. Together, the results suggest that the mere presence of an odor affects the processing of A, V, and AV objects differently while multisensory interactions of AV and AVO objects have common neuronal mechanisms pointing to a robust, modality-independent network for the processing of redundant sensory information.
ISSN:0379-864X
1464-3553
DOI:10.1093/chemse/bjx068