The Anisotropic Effect of Synchronization between Light and Sound Stimuli upon Localization of Sound Stimuli

Abstract

We measured the influence of light stimuli upon the localization of sound stimuli with a method of pointing toward perceived positions. While subjects looked at a small circle stimulus which was controlled its on-set timing. six short sounds were presented. In experiment 1, we tested the localization bias on sound stimuli separately in vertical and horizontal directions. In experiment 2, the positions of stimuli were localized within a 2D plane which was parallel to subjects’ foreheads. The sound stimuli were presented in a random order at several positions in a horizontal, a vertical, or an oblique direction. The results indicated that the localization bias appeared when both stimuli of light and sound were presented synchronously and the effect of synchronization upon the localization bias was more remarkable in the vertical direction rather than in the horizontal direction.