Cross-modal integration of auditory and visual motion signals

Real-world moving objects are usually defined by correlated information in multiple sensory modalities such as vision and hearing. The aim of our stud y was to assess whether simultaneous auditory supra-threshold motion introd uces a bias or affects the sensitivity in a visual motion detection task. W e demonstrate a bias in the perceived direction of visual motion that is co nsistent with the direction of the auditory motion (audio-visual motion cap ture). This bias effect is robust and occurs even if the auditory and visua l motion signals come from different locations or move at different speeds. We also show that visual motion detection thresholds are higher for consis tent auditory motion than for inconsistent motion, provided the stimuli mov e at the same speed and are colocalised. NeuroReport 12:2557-2560 (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.