Human multisensory fusion of vision and touch: detecting non-linearity with small changes in the sensory environment

Previous investigations using relatively large amplitude sensory stimuli or complete removal of sensory input have demonstrated non-linear processing of sensory information for postural control. In the present study, we asked whether a linear range of sensory fusion exists when smaller amplitude stimuli are used. The amplitudes of visual and somatosensory input were simultaneously co-varied within a trial. The postural responses were characterized by analyzing how the Fourier transform of postural sway at the driving frequency varied with sensory movement amplitudes. If the postural control system is linear with constant weighting of sensory inputs, then the pattern of Fourier transforms should be a linear function of movement amplitude. However, in 28 of 58 trials we observed non-linearity in this function. The results clearly show that even at very small amplitudes of sensory change, the nervous system processes multisensory information in a non-linear fashion. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.