Other Sensory Responses, Multisensory Interaction, and Interoception

Abstract This chapter begins by discussing the neurophysiology of the human olfactory and gustatory systems. Potential confounds in these studies include inadvertent tactile stimulation of the nasal mucosa and tongue. Issues also arise related to potential changes in subject state during experiments that for recording reliable cortical responses use long ISIs of around 30 s. The chapter next deals with multisensory interactions, presenting examples of audiovisual and audiotactile integration. The findings are discussed in the context of existing models that catalogue multisensory interactions (e.g., superadditivity, underadditivity) based on animal and human data. The last part of the chapter introduces the now rapidly expanding research area of interoception. Responses have been recoded to distension of the esophagus, urethra, and rectum; spontaneous contractions of the stomach and upper gut; and contractions of the uterus in pregnant women. The chapter ends by examining evoked responses to one’s own heartbeats and respiration.