Invisible Flashes Alter Perceived Sound Location

Delong P, Aller M, Giani AS, Conrad V, Rohe T, Watanabe M, Noppeney U (2018)


Publication Status: Published

Publication Type: Journal article, Original article

Publication year: 2018

Journal

Publisher: Nature Publishing Group

Book Volume: 8

Article Number: 12376

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-30773-3

Open Access Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-30773-3

Abstract

Information integration across the senses is fundamental for effective interactions with our environment. The extent to which signals from different senses can interact in the absence of awareness is controversial. Combining the spatial ventriloquist illusion and dynamic continuous flash suppression (dCFS), we investigated in a series of two experiments whether visual signals that observers do not consciously perceive can influence spatial perception of sounds. Importantly, dCFS obliterated visual awareness only on a fraction of trials allowing us to compare spatial ventriloquism for physically identical flashes that were judged as visible or invisible. Our results show a stronger ventriloquist effect for visible than invisible flashes. Critically, a robust ventriloquist effect emerged also for invisible flashes even when participants were at chance when locating the flash. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that signals that we are not aware of in one sensory modality can alter spatial perception of signals in another sensory modality.

Authors with CRIS profile

How to cite

APA:

Delong, P., Aller, M., Giani, A.S., Conrad, V., Rohe, T., Watanabe, M., & Noppeney, U. (2018). Invisible Flashes Alter Perceived Sound Location. Scientific Reports, 8(1). https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-30773-3

MLA:

Delong, Patrycja, et al. "Invisible Flashes Alter Perceived Sound Location." Scientific Reports 8.1 (2018).

BibTeX: Download