Congruence of happy and sad emotion in music and faces modifies cortical audiovisual activation

► Activity in superior temporal gyrus (STG) and fusiform gyrus (FG) is modulated by emotional congruence in music and faces. ► BOLD signal in STG (FG) is increased (decreased) by congruent music and faces. ► BOLD signal in STG (FG) is decreased (increased) by incongruent music and faces. ► Behavioral testing supplements interactive modulation in STG and FG. ► The findings lead to novel insights in basic mechanisms of emotion perception.