Cross-modal integration of auditory and visual motion signals

A bias in the perceived direction of visual motion that is consistent with the direction of the auditory motion (audio-visual motion capture) is demonstrated that is robust and occurs even if the auditory and visual motion signals come from different locations or move at different speeds.

Abstract

Real-world moving objects are usually defined by correlated information in multiple sensory modalities such as vision and hearing. The aim of our study was to assess whether simultaneous auditory supra-threshold motion introduces a bias or affects the sensitivity in a visual motion detection task. We demonstrate a bias in the perceived direction of visual motion that is consistent with the direction of the auditory motion (audio-visual motion capture). This bias effect is robust and occurs even if the auditory and visual motion signals come from different locations or move at different speeds. We also show that visual motion detection thresholds are higher for consistent auditory motion than for inconsistent motion, provided the stimuli move at the same speed and are co-localised.