Viewpoint on Neural Mechanisms for Multisensory Integration in Speech Perception

Abstract

This interview brings together perspectives from the authors on the origins, evolution, and future directions of multisensory neuroscience. The authors reflect on their early motivations, tracing the field’s development from studies of intersensory attention and early cortical integration to contemporary investigations of naturalistic audiovisual speech. They highlight landmark empirical and methodological advances — including high-density EEG, BOLD fMRI, intracranial recordings, and analyses of continuous stimuli — that overturned the traditional view of multisensory integration as a strictly higher-order process. Central themes include the role of the superior temporal sulcus in audiovisual speech, the hierarchical and temporally dynamic nature of multisensory binding, and ongoing debates concerning the mechanisms underlying neural responses to naturalistic stimuli, such as evoked-response versus oscillatory-entrainment accounts. The interview also addresses current controversies, including interpretations of redundant signals effects and the neural organization of language, as well as concerns about underpowered studies and reproducibility. The authors strongly advocate open science practices, emphasizing data and code sharing while acknowledging structural challenges. Looking ahead, they discuss the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, invasive human recordings, genetic models, and translational applications, particularly for neurodevelopmental disorders. Collectively, this dialogue situates multisensory integration as a rapidly advancing field bridging sensory processing, cognition, and clinical relevance.