Dataset Information

Neural basis of the crossmodal correspondence between auditory pitch and visuospatial elevation.

ABSTRACT: Crossmodal correspondences refer to associations between otherwise unrelated stimulus features in different sensory modalities. For example, high and low auditory pitches are associated with high and low visuospatial elevation, respectively. The neural mechanisms underlying crossmodal correspondences are currently unknown. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the neural basis of the pitch-elevation correspondence. Pitch-elevation congruency effects were observed bilaterally in the inferior frontal and insular cortex, the right frontal eye field and right inferior parietal cortex. Independent functional localizers failed to provide strong evidence for any of three proposed mechanisms for crossmodal correspondences: semantic mediation, magnitude estimation, and multisensory integration. Instead, pitch-elevation congruency effects overlapped with areas selective for visually presented non-word strings relative to sentences, and with regions sensitive to audiovisual asynchrony. Taken together with the prior literature, the observed congruency effects are most consistent with mediation by multisensory attention.

SUBMITTER: McCormick K

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7838671 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Neural basis of the crossmodal correspondence between auditory pitch and visuospatial elevation.

McCormick Kelly K Lacey Simon S Stilla Randall R Nygaard Lynne C LC Sathian K K

Neuropsychologia 20180301

Crossmodal correspondences refer to associations between otherwise unrelated stimulus features in different sensory modalities. For example, high and low auditory pitches are associated with high and low visuospatial elevation, respectively. The neural mechanisms underlying crossmodal correspondences are currently unknown. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the neural basis of the pitch-elevation correspondence. Pitch-elevation congruency effects were obser ...[more]

PMID: 29501792

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Project description:Based on the existing research on sound symbolism and crossmodal correspondence, this study proposed an extended research on cross-modal correspondence between various sound attributes and color properties in a group of non-synesthetes. In Experiment 1, we assessed the associations between each property of sounds and colors. Twenty sounds with five auditory properties (pitch, roughness, sharpness, tempo and discontinuity), each varied in four levels, were used as the sound stimuli. Forty-nine colors with different hues, saturation and brightness were used to match to those sounds. Result revealed that besides pitch and tempo, roughness and sharpness also played roles in sound-color correspondence. Reaction times of sound-hue were a little longer than the reaction times of sound-lightness. In Experiment 2, a speeded target discrimination task was used to assess whether the associations between sound attributes and color properties could invoke natural cross-modal correspondence and improve participants' cognitive efficiency in cognitive tasks. Several typical sound-color pairings were selected according to the results of Experiment 1. Participants were divided into two groups (congruent and incongruent). In each trial participants had to judge whether the presented color could appropriately be associated with the sound stimuli. Result revealed that participants responded more quickly and accurately in the congruent group than in the incongruent group. It was also found that there was no significant difference in reaction times and error rates between sound-hue and sound-lightness. The results of Experiment 1 and 2 indicate the existence of a robust crossmodal correspondence between multiple attributes of sound and color, which also has strong influence on cognitive tasks. The inconsistency of the reaction times between sound-hue and sound-lightness in Experiment 1 and 2 is probably owing to the difference in experimental protocol, which indicates that the complexity of experiment design may be an important factor in crossmodal correspondence phenomena.

Dataset Information

Neural basis of the crossmodal correspondence between auditory pitch and visuospatial elevation.

Publications

Neural basis of the crossmodal correspondence between auditory pitch and visuospatial elevation.

Similar Datasets

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