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American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 2(115), p. 172-189, 2010

DOI: 10.1352/1944-7588-115.172

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Auditory Attraction: Activation of visual cortex by music and sound in Williams syndrome

Journal article published in 2010 by Tricia A. Thornton-Wells ORCID, Chris J. Cannistraci, Adam W. Anderson, Chai-Youn Kim, Mariam Eapen, John C. Gore, Randolph Blake, Elisabeth M. Dykens
This paper is available in a repository.
This paper is available in a repository.

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Abstract

Abstract Williams syndrome is a genetic neurodevelopmental disorder with a distinctive phenotype, including cognitive–linguistic features, nonsocial anxiety, and a strong attraction to music. We performed functional MRI studies examining brain responses to musical and other types of auditory stimuli in young adults with Williams syndrome and typically developing controls. In Study 1, the Williams syndrome group exhibited unforeseen activations of the visual cortex to musical stimuli, and it was this novel finding that became the focus of two subsequent studies. Using retinotopy, color localizers, and additional sound conditions, we identified specific visual areas in subjects with Williams syndrome that were activated by both musical and nonmusical auditory stimuli. The results, similar to synesthetic-like experiences, have implications for cross-modal sensory processing in typical and atypical neurodevelopment.