Final answer:
Multimodal integration in the cerebral cortex allows the brain to process and combine information from various sensory modalities, leading to a unified perceptual experience. This is largely due to the orbitofrontal cortex, where neurons can respond to multiple senses, aiding in higher cognitive functions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Multimodal integration is a complex process in the cerebral cortex whereby information from more than one sensory modality is combined to perform higher-level functions such as memory, learning, or cognition. Sensory stimuli are first registered through receptor cells like nociceptors, and then this information is relayed to the central nervous system (CNS) along ascending pathways. In the cerebral cortex, this sensory information is processed from primary to associative and finally, to the multimodal integration area. The orbitofrontal cortex is particularly important for this multisensory integration, as neurons here, sometimes referred to as polymodal neurons, can respond to more than one sense.
With the contributions of neurons capable of handling multiple sensory modalities, we experience what is described as a seamless percept. This integration process gives us a unified experience of the world, rather than fragmented sensory inputs. The posterior parietal cortex, for example, lies between the somatosensory cortex and visual cortex regions, integrating multisensory information to coordinate complex tasks like reaching and grasping objects, utilizing proprioceptive feedback for motor movements.