Predictive and sensory integration begins at an early stage of visual processing

Brain activity was measured by magnetoencephalography to investigate the spatiotemporal stage of visual processing at which predictive and sensory integration begins. We examined the consequences of a visual mismatch between preliminary prediction and incoming stimulus. Following auditory cues (1000- and 1250-Hz tones) for prediction, congruent and incongruent images, pictures of two musical keys, were presented to volunteers. When they predicted visual inputs on the basis of preceding auditory cues, we detected a mismatch signal for predictive-sensory incongruities in the striate and extrastriate areas for 100-200 ms after image presentation. As this signal reflects a compatibility analysis, we propose that the integration process begins in these areas approximately 100 ms after image presentation.