95700 - Psychology of Multisensory Integration (1) (Lm)

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course, the student will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the mechanisms underlying multisensory integration and the perceptual and behavioural consequences of multisensory integration and the key determinants of these intersensory bindings: the the role of attention on crossmodal perception and multisensory integration; the multisensory brain's representation of the body and of peripersonal space and the cortical plasticity across sensory modalities and the effects of sensory deprivation

Course contents

This course will describe and evaluate the results of recent research on multisensory integration. First, the mechanisms underlying multisensory integration will be outlined. We will then examine the perception of multisensory events, the advantages afforded by the ability to combine different sensory modalities and the key determinants of intersensory interactions. Another key question addressed will be how multisensory interactions are linked to and modulated by attention. We will specifically consider the latest evidence assessing the role of exogenous and endogenous attentional mechanisms on crossmodal processes. In addition, we will also focus on recent research concerning how multisensory information is used to create multiple spatial representations of our body parts and of the spaces within which they can act. We will see how these representations that are used to guide body movements through space show a considerable degree of plasticity. Finally, we will consider how the cortical system for perception may become radically reorganized after sensory deprivation and evaluate this surprising degree of cross-modal plasticity.

Readings/Bibliography

The relevant course material will be shared with students during the course of the teaching period. The course content is based primarily on scientific papers and articles. Students will be asked to read these in advance and to discuss these in class.

The reading list is available on Virtuale.

Teaching methods

The course will be delivered through a mixture of structured lectures and small group teaching involving focused discussions on key topics.

Assessment methods

The final assessment will be a written exam. Students will have one hour to answer five questions.

Please note that the exam format may change in line with the guidelines issued by the University in response to the ever-changing situation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Teaching tools

Lectures material will be shared with students together with the scientific papers and articles that will be considered in class.

Office hours

See the website of Elena Gherri