Review
Synchronisation of Neural Oscillations and Cross-modal Influences

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2020.03.003Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • Electrophysiological studies suggest that cross-modal influences in sensory cortices are mediated by the synchronisation of neural oscillations through phase-resetting and neural entrainment mechanisms.

  • Low-frequency neural oscillations in the delta, theta, and lower alpha ranges are suggested to provide temporal windows for cross-modal influences.

  • Top-down factors, such as task goals and expectations, may modulate multisensory processing as well as neural oscillations.

  • Bayesian computational modelling provides a new approach to probe cross-modal influences.

At any given moment, we receive multiple signals from our different senses. Prior research has shown that signals in one sensory modality can influence neural activity and behavioural performance associated with another sensory modality. Recent human and nonhuman primate studies suggest that such cross-modal influences in sensory cortices are mediated by the synchronisation of ongoing neural oscillations. In this review, we consider two mechanisms proposed to facilitate cross-modal influences on sensory processing, namely cross-modal phase resetting and neural entrainment. We consider how top-down processes may further influence cross-modal processing in a flexible manner, and we highlight fruitful directions for further research.

Keywords

multisensory
cross-modal influence
neural oscillations
phase reset
neural entrainment
causal inference

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