The influence of previous environmental history on audio-visual binding occurs during visual-weighted but not auditory-weighted environments.

Abstract

Although there is substantial evidence for the adjustment of audio-visual binding as a function of the distribution of audio-visual lag, it is not currently clear whether adjustment can take place as a function of task demands. To address this, participants took part in competitive binding paradigms whereby a temporally roving auditory stimulus was assigned to one of two visual anchors (visual-weighted; VAV), or, a temporally roving visual stimulus was assigned to one of two auditory anchors (auditory-weighted; AVA). Using a blocked design it was possible to assess the malleability of audiovisual binding as a function of both the repetition and change of paradigm. VAV performance showed sensitivity to preceding contexts, echoing previous 'repulsive' effects shown in recalibration literature. AVA performance showed no sensitivity to preceding contexts. Despite the use of identical equi-probable temporal distributions in both paradigms, data support the contention that visual contexts may be more sensitive than auditory contexts in being influenced by previous environmental history of temporal events.