UEA scientists discover link between how brains process sound and touch
Regions of the brain that respond to touch were found to be active when listening to sounds, like a ball bouncing or the sound of typing on a keyboard.
Scientists at the Univesity of East Anglia have made an important discovery about the way our brains process the sensations of sound and touch.
They looked at the brain's different sensory systems, finding that they are closely interconnected.
Regions of the brain that respond to touch were found to be active when listening to sounds, like a ball bouncing or the sound of typing on a keyboard.
The research team used an MRI machine to scan the brains of ten participants while they listened to various noises.
It's hoped the research could lead to a better understanding of conditions like anxiety or schizophrenia.
In time it could also help with the development of AI.
Lead researcher Dr Fraser Smith, from UEA’s School of Psychology, said: “We know that when we hear a familiar sound such as a bouncing a ball, this leads us to expect to see a particular object.
"But what we have found is that it also leads the brain to represent what it might feel like to touch and interact with that object.
“These expectations can help the brain process sensory information more efficiently.”
“Our findings challenge how neuroscientists traditionally understand the workings of sensory brain areas and demonstrate that the brain’s different sensory systems are actually all very interconnected.
“Our assumption is that the sounds provide predictions to help our future interaction with objects, in line with a key theory of brain function – called Predictive Processing.
“Understanding this key mechanism of brain function may provide compelling insights into mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, autism or anxiety and in addition, lead to developments in brain-inspired computing and AI.”