Multisensory integration in humans with spinal cord injury

Scientific Reports, 2022 · DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-26678-x · Published: December 19, 2022

Simple Explanation

Our perception of the environment is often a result of a multisensory integration (MSI), defined as the ability to synthesize cross-modal sensory information within temporal and spatial contingencies, reduce environmental uncertainty and facilitate both detection and action1,2. Recently we proposed37 that the consequences of such reorganization, together with sensorimotor impairments in SCI31,38, may induce multisensory depression and/or competition mechanisms that oppose a multisensory enhancement effect. To summarize, we provide evidence of a stimulus salience deficit in SCI during MSI. Normally our perception is facilitated by cross-modal information, and the stimuli are equally perceived.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

15 participants with SCI and 17 healthy controls

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
MSI in both SCI and healthy controls is best explained by cross-modal perceptual competition, highlighting a common competition mechanism.
2
Relative to controls, MSI impairments in SCI participants were better explained by reduced stimulus salience leading to increased cross-modal competition.
3
the structure of sensory processing pathways is not influenced by SCI (the Perceptual Competition model better accounted for both groups behavior)

Research Summary

We found that MSI in both SCI and healthy controls is best explained by cross-modal perceptual competition, highlighting a common competition mechanism. Relative to controls, MSI impairments in SCI participants were better explained by reduced stimulus salience leading to increased cross-modal competition. By combining traditional analyses with model-based approaches, we examine how MSI is realized during normal function, and how it is compromised in a clinical population.

Practical Implications

Rehabilitation strategies

The findings support future investigations identifying and rehabilitating MSI deficits in clinical disorders, suggesting potential therapeutic avenues.

Multisensory trainings

Multisensory trainings (e.g., long term stimulation protocols using multisensory approaches) that can reduce cross-modal competition in SCI or prevent intact sensory modalities from suppressing other modalities.

Understanding MSI

Understanding MSI after SCI might have important implications for new therapeutic avenues in SCI patients.

Study Limitations

1
The audio-tactile condition exhibits the greatest sensory imbalance consistent with evidence showing somatosensory deficits60,61 and dominance of the auditory system in SCI62,63.
2
Our work opens new research avenues for understanding and utilizing the neural mechanisms underlying MSI deficits to improve function after SCI.
3
Future work should examine whether and how the factors we identify in this study are influenced in other clinical populations.

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