Development and plasticity of multisensory functions

Abstract

Most events in the world are specified by information from multiple senses. To take advantage of this redundant and complementary sensory information, the brain has specialized circuits that integrate these cues in order to shape perception and guide behavior. Because of the importance of these processes, it should come as no surprise that the field of multisensory research is expanding at a rapid rate (Driver and Noesselt, 2008; Stein and Stanford, 2008). Although basic questions about multisensory circuits and the encoding processes within them are beginning to be revealed, substantially less is known about how multisensory functions emerge during development (Lewkowicz and Lickliter, 1994) and how mutable these processes are across the life span (Bavelier and Neville, 2002). The present special issue “Development and plasticity of multisensory functions” addresses each of these topics and provides significant insights into the state-of-the-field for multisensory research. Both review and research articles report recent results of studies using both human and animal models, and which employ either prospective or retrospective approaches. Contributions focus on the major themes of multisensory development in children, cross-modal plasticity in the blind and deaf, and recovery of multisensory function following the restoration of vision or hearing. The following narrative provides a brief synopsis of the major research highlights contained within this special issue.