Plasticity in human sound localization induced by compressed spatial vision.

Full Abstract

Auditory and visual target locations are encoded differently in the brain, but must be co-calibrated to maintain cross-sensory concordance. Mechanisms that adjust spatial calibration across modalities have been described (for example, prism adaptation in owls), though rudimentarily in humans. We quantified the adaptation of human sound localization in response to spatially compressed vision (0.5x lenses for 2-3 days). This induced a corresponding compression of auditory localization that was most pronounced for azimuth (minimal for elevation) and was restricted to the visual field of the lenses. Sound localization was also affected outside the field of visual-auditory interaction (shifted centrally, not compressed). These results suggest that spatially modified vision induces adaptive changes in adult human sound localization, including novel mechanisms that account for spatial compression. Findings are consistent with a model in which the central processing of sound location is encoded by recruitment rather than by a place code.

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Author information

Author/s: Zwiers, Marcel P (MP); Van Opstal, A John (AJ); Paige, Gary D (GD);

Affiliation: Department of Biophysics, University of Nijmegen, Geert Grooteplein 21, 6525 EZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Grants: AG16319 (Agency:NIA NIH HHS) ; DC01935 (Agency:NIDCD NIH HHS) ; RR09283 (Agency:NCRR NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

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

Journal: Nature neuroscience (Nat Neurosci), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2003-Feb; vol 6 (issue 2) : pp 175-81

Dates: Created 2003/01/29; Completed 2003/03/21; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 12524547, 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.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Acoustic Stimulation
Adaptation, Physiological - physiology
Adult
Auditory Pathways - physiology
Brain - physiology
Cues
Eyeglasses
Female
Fixation, Ocular - physiology
Humans

Male
Neural Pathways - physiology
Neuronal Plasticity - physiology
Neurons - physiology
Neuropsychological Tests
Photic Stimulation
Sound Localization - physiology
Space Perception - physiology
Visual Fields - physiology
Visual Perception - physiology

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