Visual cortex is affected by sounds. Does this mean it is multisensory? Does it represent sounds?
Today in Nature #Neuroscience (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-022-01227-x) Célian Bimbard and team find otherwise.
Sound-evoked activity in visual cortex was similar across neurons. Even neurons in hippocampus. It persisted after we cut fibers from auditory cortex!
This activity was predicted by… subtle body movements evoked by the sounds. It reflects brainwide state and behavior signals.
@MatteoCarandini
Would this at least partly explain synesthesia in humans?
@AndyLowry Thanks for the question. I doubt it, because the sounds/movements evoked activity that was largely orthogonal to that evoked by visual stimuli.
@MatteoCarandini
Thanks! Have always wondered what's going on with the "wiring" that the sensory input could be mixed like that, but I'll wait for more clues.
