Integrating multimodal information into a unified perception is a fundamental human capacity. McGurk effect is a remarkable multisensory illusion that demonstrates a percept different from incongruent auditory and visual syllables. However, not all listeners perceive the McGurk illusion to the same degree. The neural basis for individual differences in modulation of multisensory integration and syllabic perception remains largely unclear. To probe the possible involvement of specific neural circuits in individual differences in multisensory speech perception, we first implemented a behavioral experiment to examine the McGurk susceptibility. Then, functional magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 63 participants to measure the brain activity in response to non-McGurk audiovisual syllables. We revealed significant individual variability in McGurk illusion perception. Moreover, we found significant differential activations of the auditory and visual regions and the left Superior temporal sulcus (STS), as well as multiple motor areas between strong and weak McGurk perceivers. Importantly, the individual engagement of the STS and motor areas could specifically predict the behavioral McGurk susceptibility, contrary to the sensory regions. These findings suggest that the distinct multimodal integration in STS as well as coordinated phonemic modulatory processes in motor circuits may serve as a neural substrate for interindividual differences in multisensory speech perception.

将多模态信息整合到统一的感知中是人类的一项基本能力。麦格克效应是一种非凡的多感官错觉，它展示了一种不同于不一致的听觉和视觉音节的感知。然而，并非所有听众都以相同的程度感知麦格克错觉。多感官整合和音节感知调节中个体差异的神经基础在很大程度上仍不清楚。为了探究特定神经回路可能参与多感官语音感知的个体差异，我们首先实施了一项行为实验来检查 McGurk 易感性。然后，对 63 名参与者进行功能性磁共振成像，以测量大脑对非 McGurk 视听音节的反应。我们揭示了 McGurk 错觉感知的显着个体差异。此外，我们发现听觉和视觉区域和左侧颞上沟 (STS) 的显着差异激活，以及强和弱 McGurk 感知器之间的多个运动区域。重要的是，与感觉区域相反，STS 和运动区域的个体参与可以具体预测行为 McGurk 易感性。这些研究结果表明，STS 中独特的多模态整合以及运动电路中协调的音素调制过程可以作为多感官语音感知中个体间差异的神经基质。以及强和弱 McGurk 感知器之间的多个运动区域。重要的是，与感觉区域相反，STS 和运动区域的个体参与可以具体预测行为 McGurk 易感性。这些研究结果表明，STS 中独特的多模态整合以及运动电路中协调的音素调制过程可以作为多感官语音感知中个体间差异的神经基质。以及强和弱 McGurk 感知器之间的多个运动区域。重要的是，与感觉区域相反，STS 和运动区域的个体参与可以具体预测行为 McGurk 易感性。这些研究结果表明，STS 中独特的多模态整合以及运动电路中协调的音素调制过程可以作为多感官语音感知中个体间差异的神经基质。