Editing Stimulus modality (section)

== Multimodal perception ==
Multimodal perception is the ability of the mammalian nervous system to combine all of the different inputs of the [[sensory nervous system]] to result in an enhanced detection or identification of a particular stimulus. Combinations of all sensory modalities are done in cases where a single sensory modality results in an ambiguous and incomplete result.<ref name = "small"/>

[[File:Multisensory.jpg|thumb|Location of visual, auditory and somatosensory perception in the superior colliculus of the brain. Overlapping of these systems creates multisensory space.]]

[[multisensory integration|Integration]] of all sensory modalities occurs when multimodal neurons receive sensory information which overlaps with different modalities. Multimodal neurons are found in the superior colliculus;<ref name = "small"/> they respond to the versatility of various sensory inputs. The multimodal neurons lead to change of behavior and assist in analyzing behavior responses to certain stimulus.<ref name = "small"/> Information from two or more [[sense]]s is encountered. Multimodal perception is not limited to one area of the brain: many brain regions are activated when sensory information is perceived from the environment.<ref name = "ivry">{{cite book|last=Ivry|first=Richard|title=Cognitive Neuroscience: The biology of the mind|year=2009|publisher=W.W. Norton and Company|location=New York|isbn=978-0-393-92795-5|pages=199}}</ref> In fact, the hypothesis of having a centralized multisensory region is receiving continually more speculation, as several regions previously uninvestigated are now considered multimodal. The reasons behind this are currently being investigated by several research groups, but it is now understood to approach these issues from a decentralized theoretical perspective. Moreover, several labs using invertebrate model organisms will provide invaluable information to the community as these are more easily studied and are considered to have decentralized nervous systems.

===Lip reading===
[[Lip reading]] is a multimodal process for humans.<ref name = "ivry"/> By watching movements of lips and face, humans get conditioned and practice lip reading.<ref name = "ivry"/> Silent lip reading activates the [[auditory cortex]].  When sounds are matched or mismatched with the movements of the lips, temporal sulcus of the left hemisphere becomes more active.<ref name = "ivry"/>

===Integration effect===
Multimodal [[perception]] comes into effect when a unimodal stimulus fails to produce a response. Integration effect is applied when the brain detects weak unimodal signals and combines them to create a multimodal perception for the [[mammal]].  Integration effect is plausible when different stimuli are coincidental. This integration is depressed when multisensory information is not coincidentally presented.<ref name = "ivry"/>

===Polymodality===
''Polymodality'' is the feature of a single receptor of responding to multiple modalities, such as [[free nerve endings]] which can respond to temperature, mechanical stimuli (touch, pressure, stretch) or pain ([[nociception]]).