Viewpoint on Functional Coupling and Neural Oscillations in Multisensory Integration

<p>In this viewpoint article, Jennifer Bizley and Daniel Senkowski share their perspectives on past, present, and future developments in research on the roles of functional coupling and neural oscillations in multisensory integration. Drawing on existing studies, the authors argue that a central finding that has shaped the field is that processing in early sensory cortices is influenced by stimuli from other modalities. This finding challenges the classical view of these areas as strictly unisensory. Advances in brain stimulation methods, high-density neural recordings, and computational and machine learning approaches are propelling the field toward richer datasets, a more mechanistic understanding, and causal tests of how neural oscillations and functional coupling may support multisensory integration. Key controversies include the significance of the individual alpha frequency in multisensory integration, and whether crossmodal interactions in early sensory cortices reflect genuine multisensory interactions or movement-related artifacts. The authors advocate for open science practices, including preregistration, data sharing, and publicly available analysis code. Looking ahead, the authors anticipate that the implementation of artificial intelligence and the use of large-scale microelectrode arrays will bridge the gap between micro- and macroscale observations by linking circuit-level findings in animals to large-scale human neuroimaging data. They advise young scientists to develop expertise across multiple sensory modalities, pursue unexpected findings, and actively engage with the collaborative multisensory research community. The authors emphasize that multisensory research examining functional coupling and neural oscillations is ecologically valid, full of unanswered questions, and of growing importance in cognitive and clinical neuroscience.</p>