Separation Between Sound and Light Enhances Audio-Visual Prior Entry Effect
Poster Presentation

Yuki Hongoh
Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Kobe University, Japan; JSPS Research Fellow

Shinichi Kita
Faculty of Letters, Kobe University, Japan

     Abstract ID Number: 45
     Full text: Not available
     Last modified: May 30, 2007
     Presentation date: 07/06/2007 10:00 AM in Quad Maclauren Hall
     (View Schedule)

Abstract
We examined how the spatial disparity between the auditory and visual stimuli modulated the audio-visual prior entry effect (A-V prior entry effect). Six loudspeakers were located at 10, 25, and 90 degrees from the midline of the participant to the right and left sides. The preceding sound was presented from one of these six loudspeakers. After the preceding sound, two visual targets were presented successively at a short interval and participants judged which visual target was presented first. Two colour changeable (red or green) light emitting diodes (LEDs) were used for the visual targets in order to avoid the response bias as possible. Results showed biased judgment that the visual target at the sound presented side was presented first (A-V prior entry effect). This A-V prior entry effect was greater when the preceding sound source was more apart from the midline of participants. This effect of spatial separation indicated that the clarity of right and left side of the preceding sound enhanced the amplitude of audio-visual prior entry effect. These were challenging results to the belief that the spatial proximity of multisensory stimuli was a crucial factor for multisensory integration.