Abnormal multisensory integration in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Temporal Binding Window (TBW) represents a reliable index of efficient multisensory integration process, which allows individuals to infer which sensory inputs from different modalities pertain to the same event. TBW alterations have been reported in some neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders and seem to negatively affects cognition and behavior. So far, it is still unknown whether deficits of multisensory integration, as indexed by an abnormal TBW, are present even in Multiple Sclerosis. We addressed this issue by testing 25 participants affected by relapsing–remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) and 30 age-matched healthy controls. Participants completed a simultaneity judgment task (SJ2) to assess the audio-visual TBW; two unimodal SJ2 versions were used as control tasks. Individuals with RRMS showed an enlarged audio-visual TBW (width range = from − 166 ms to + 198 ms), as compared to healthy controls (width range = − 177/ + 66 ms), thus showing an increased tendency to integrate temporally asynchronous visual and auditory stimuli. Instead, simultaneity perception of unimodal (visual or auditory) events overall did not differ from that of controls. These results provide first evidence of a selective deficit of multisensory integration in individuals affected by RRMS, besides the well-known motor and cognitive impairments. The reduced multisensory temporal acuity is likely caused by a disruption of the neural interplay between different sensory systems caused by multiple sclerosis.

Multisensory integration and white matter pathology: Contributions to cognitive dysfunction

“…Recent reports abundantly support deficient multisensory processing in MS. Giurgola et al report that persons in the early stages of MS (e.g., relapsing-remitting disease) demonstrate abnormal multimodal processing involving concurrent visual and auditory signals, which may lead to cognitive impairment ( 82 ). Altered unimodal sensory processing and related cognitive impairment is also described in MS. For example, vestibular signal processing is impaired in patients with MS, and is associated with cognitive dysfunction, including slowed processing speed, impaired memory, and visuospatial dysfunction ( 83 ).…”

Sensory Integration Disorders in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

“…An interesting approach to stimulus processing impairment was presented in a study by Giurgiola et al, in which participants performed a simultaneity judgment task to assess the temporal binding window (TBW). Participants in the study group were significantly more likely to show enlarged audio–visual TBW than the control group, indicating asynchronous visual and auditory stimuli integration [ 26 ]. Considering cognitive abilities in MS and their impact on sensory integration, a study by researchers from Seville may be of interest.…”