Neural correlates of externalized auditory motion perception under reverberation

Abstract

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we investigated neural substrates of realistic auditory motion perception. "Realistic" here means experiencing the sound as located outside the head instead of originating inside the head. In order to examine neural effects of moving sounds and neural effects of externalized sounds separately, we included two experimental factors in our design: whether auditory stimuli were externalized or not (externalizability factor) and whether auditory stimuli were moving or not (motion factor). Externalized sounds activated planum temporale (PT) more than non-externalized sounds. Moving sounds activated posterior middle temporal gyrus (pMTG) more than stationary sounds. An interaction effect was found in the right PT. Our results indicate that the PT and pMTG are involved in realistic auditory motion perception. The fidelity of auditory space presentation may be evaluated by observing neural activity change in the PT and pMTG.