Multisensory integration in the basal ganglia.

Full Abstract

Sensorimotor co-ordination in mammals is achieved predominantly via the activity of the basal ganglia. To investigate the underlying multisensory information processing, we recorded the neuronal responses in the caudate nucleus (CN) and substantia nigra (SN) of anaesthetized cats to visual, auditory or somatosensory stimulation alone and also to their combinations, i.e. multisensory stimuli. The main goal of the study was to ascertain whether multisensory information provides more information to the neurons than do the individual sensory components. A majority of the investigated SN and CN multisensory units exhibited significant cross-modal interactions. The multisensory response enhancements were either additive or superadditive; multisensory response depressions were also detected. CN and SN cells with facilitatory and inhibitory interactions were found in each multisensory combination. The strengths of the multisensory interactions did not differ in the two structures. A significant inverse correlation was found between the strengths of the best unimodal responses and the magnitudes of the multisensory response enhancements, i.e. the neurons with the weakest net unimodal responses exhibited the strongest enhancement effects. The onset latencies of the responses of the integrative CN and SN neurons to the multisensory stimuli were significantly shorter than those to the unimodal stimuli. These results provide evidence that the multisensory CN and SN neurons, similarly to those in the superior colliculus and related structures, have the ability to integrate multisensory information. Multisensory integration may help in the effective processing of sensory events and the changes in the environment during motor actions controlled by the basal ganglia.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Nagy, Attila (A); Eördegh, Gabriella (G); Paróczy, Zsuzsanna (Z); Márkus, Zita (Z); Benedek, György (G);

Affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical and Pharmaceutical Centre, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 10, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary. nagya(-atsign-)phys.szote.u-szeged.hu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: The European journal of neuroscience (Eur J Neurosci), published in France. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Aug; vol 24 (issue 3) : pp 917-24

Dates: Created 2006/08/25; Completed 2006/11/01; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 16930419, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Action Potentials - physiology
Afferent Pathways - physiology
Animals
Auditory Perception - physiology
Basal Ganglia - physiology
Cats
Caudate Nucleus - physiology
Female
Male

Movement - physiology
Neural Inhibition - physiology
Neurons - physiology
Reaction Time - physiology
Sensation - physiology
Substantia Nigra - physiology
Synaptic Transmission - physiology
Touch - physiology
Visual Perception - physiology

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

See 100+ related articles.