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Abstract

Interactions between different sensory modalities can affect processing of unisensory information, at both a perceptual and a neural level. The studies reported in this thesis address the effects of crossmodal interactions between vision and touch on tactile processing. In particular, these studies provide new behavioural and neural (ERP; event related potentials) evidence showing that: i) crossmodal interactions enhance tactile processing when (task-irrelevant) visual stimuli are presented, simultaneously with touch, at the same location as tactile stimuli compared to a different location in near or in far space; ii) crossmodal interactions between spatial congruent visual and tactile stimuli enhance tactile processing compared to incongruent visuo-tactile stimulation, also when (task-irrelevant) visual stimuli presented near the body are observed indirectly in a mirror (i.e., appearing in far space), although in this condition these crossmodal spatial modulations are delayed compared to direct viewing of the visual stimuli; iii) vision of the body (i.e., the hands) facilitates tactile-spatial attentional selection, as compared to no visual input (blindfolded condition), and also compared to visual-spatial information only (i.e., when the hands are hidden from view); iv) in rightbrain- damaged patients with tactile neglect and/or extinction, vision of the stimulated hand may further improve speed processing of contralesional tactile stimuli when the left, contralesional hand is placed in the right, 'intact' hemispace, under crossed posture.

In these studies, visual modulations of touch were present at early time intervals (i.e., early ERP components), suggesting that crossmodal spatial interactions can affect processing in cortical areas that have been considered 'modality-specific', namely, the secondary somatosensory cortex (SII). Taken together, the findings from the studies in this thesis provide new behavioural and ERP evidence in support of crossmodal spatial representations of the body and ofthe space surrounding the body (i.e., peripersonal space) in humans.

Publication Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Departments:	Doctoral Theses School of Health & Psychological Sciences > Psychology School of Health & Psychological Sciences > School of Health & Psychological Sciences Doctoral Theses

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