Neuroscience. More to seeing than meets the eye

Science. 2000 Aug 18;289(5482):1148-9. doi: 10.1126/science.289.5482.1148.

Abstract

A single event may elicit several different sensory stimuli such as vision, sound, and touch. But how does the brain know which of the many different stimuli arriving in the sensory cortex of the brain are connected? In her Perspective, de Gelder discusses new findings showing that when a touch is applied on the same side of the body as a visual cue, vision is enhanced (Macaluso et al.). She explains that this effect is due to neurons projecting from the somatosensory (touch) area of the sensory cortex back to the visual cortex. These neurons keep the visual cortex informed about tactile stimuli elicited at the same time as the visual stimuli.

Publication types

  • Kommentar

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Auditory Cortex / physiology
  • Brain Mapping
  • Feedback
  • Humans
  • Nerve Net / physiology
  • Neural Pathways / physiology
  • Neurons, Afferent / physiology*
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Somatosensory Cortex / physiology*
  • Touch / physiology*
  • Visual Cortex / physiology*