Cross-modal Cues Research Articles

Cross-modal enhancement of repetition detection for very long period recycling frozen noise

Guttman and Julesz [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 35, 610 (1963)] reported that recycling of frozen noise segments can be readily detected for periods up to 1 s and can be detected with difficulty for periods of 2 s. These experiments demonstrate that this limit can be exceeded with ease. It was found that a cross-modal cue (e.g., a light flash) presented synchronously with a randomly selected point in a 10-s recycled frozen noise allows listeners to tap accurately at the repetition rate when the recycled noise is subsequently presented without the cue—even following delays of 24 h or more. Two mechanisms for the effect of cueing are suggested: (1) it provides an accurate time base for determining when repetition of salient events will occur; (2) cross-modality attentional effects highlight auditory events concurrent with the cue. Experiments distinguishing between these two mechanisms will be discussed along with other aspects of the effect. [Work supported by NIH.]

Spatial attentional shifts: Implications for the role of polysensory mechanisms

Simple reaction times to lateralized visual (Experiment 1) or auditory (Experiment 2) targets were studied in normal subjects. The targets were preceded by a visual or auditory cue located on the same (valid cue), or opposite (invalid cue) side as the subsequent target, or on both sides (neutral cue), with one of four cue target intervals. The validity of visual and auditory cues influenced the speed of response to the visual target but not to the auditory target. It is hypothesized that cross-modal cueing of spatial position works only with modalities for which a movement (e.g. saccade) leads to improved sensory analysis.